GO ACROSS TO THE OTHER SIDE…

Hebrews 11:1-2,8-19
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.2 For by it the men of old received divine approval.
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was to go.9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.10 For he looked forward to the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.
12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.
13 These all died in faith, not having received what was promised, but having seen it and greeted it from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return.
16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was ready to offer up his only son,18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your descendants be named.”
19 He considered that God was able to raise men even from the dead; hence, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.

Mark 4:35-41 

35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.“36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him.37 And a great storm of wind arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care if we perish?”39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.40 He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?”41 And they were filled with awe, and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey him?”

MEDITATION 

THE HEBREW WRITER chronicle the story of the Abrahamic family who were unrelenting in their quest to make their way to the promised land, notwithstanding the many trails and tests they were exposed to.This family were assured that their obedience and faithfulness shall reap their just reward.Virtues such as manliness, courage, excellence and perfection: “Habitus opirativus bonus,” a collection of good habits and drivers—the converse of vices— informed and propelled the Abrahamic family to move to ‘a better country’ namely, heaven!

THE GOSPEL READING: It is evening when Christ propose that the Apostles travel by boat to the other side. Christ made the journey “just as he was,” meaning he did not carry any baggage. In spite of the prevailing inclement weather storm that caused the boat to be thrown about, Jesus remained asleep whilst His fellow passengers and the skipper were worried and panic-stricken!

Faith is synonymous with hope, things or events we hope to achieve or inherit. It can also be said that faith is akin to kinetic energy that propell and move the believer in a forward direction, notwithstanding any apposing forces. It stands to reason that faith and belief is self-defeating if it does not include personal preparation; prayer, painful doing, charitable giving, sacrificing whilst the Holy Spirit inch us forward to reach the other side.It is necessary that we invite Christ as soon as possible to journey with us and our loved ones, rather than react posthumously when we find ourselves in a pickle, because it may be too late to cross to the other side! Lk 16:19-31

LET US PRAY:Luke 1:69-75 

69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,
70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,71 that we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us;72 to perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant,73 the oath which he swore to our father Abraham,74 to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear,75 in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life.

Note: The daily scripture readings are taken from the Roman Missal which the Catholic Church use in the daily Celebration of the Holy Eucharist throughout the world.Some weekly readings may differ because of the celebration of local feast days.