God is always present in the storm
January 28, Third Saturday in Ordinary Time
Thomas Aquinas, Priest, Religious, Doctor Obligatory Memorial
First Reading: Hebrews 11: 1-2, 8-19; Gospel: Mark 4: 35-41
In March 2020, in the depths of the global pandemic, Pope Francis stood alone in a rainy saint Peter’s Square, blessing the city and the world with Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament. Preaching to the world, he chose the Gospel story we hear today. His intent was to remind the faithful and all people of good will that, no matter how strong the storms of life might seem, God is always present in the storm. Though he may seem to be sleeping, Jesus can calm the storm and restore order.
When difficulties strike – family arguments, job loss, health problems – it can be hard to put our trust in God. We think that we have to handle everything on our own, that success or failure rests on our shoulders. But Jesus reminds us that he is present, in his sacraments and in his Church, to offer aid, comfort, and peace. We are never alone.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.