When we booked Dr. Lorna Gold as our opening keynote speaker for this year's festival, with its theme of "Home?", it was because 2025 marks the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si', the challenging encyclical by Pope Francis, where he invites us all to take better care of our shared home, the earth... Given that Lorna writes extensively on global economic, social and environmental issues just , has been involved with the global "Laudato Si'" Movement from its inception and is an inspiring speaker, we were delighted when she agreed, especially when she agreed to both speak in depth at our evening event at Jennymount Methodist and to be our speaker earlier that day in our live Radio Ulster Morning Service from John the Evangelist Parish Church. Our delight was doubled when two days before she spoke it was announced that she had actually been appointed as the new Executive Director of the worldwide Laudato Si' Movement in a special private audience with Pope Francis.
"That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, ‘Let us go over to the other side.’ Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?’ He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down, and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, ‘Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?’ They were terrified and asked each other, ‘Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!’"
Mark 4:35-41
Jesus’ disciples were no strangers to the Sea of Galilee. Many of them were seasoned fishermen who knew its waters. Yet, this storm was no ordinary one—it was a "furious squall," fierce enough to overwhelm even the most experienced sailors. It reminds me of the unprecedented storm we faced on this island just last week – Storm Eowyn. None of us had ever witnessed such a storm here on this island. We witnessed the power of the wind and waves to overwhelm us.
Our world today is facing major storms of many kinds. Some are actual storms like Eowyn, which are getting worse due to the impact of climate change and environmental destruction. Other storms are more complex – social and political upheaval which seem to be accelerating. Each of us moreover faces our own storms, hidden dramas in the big storms - unexpected loss, financial hardship, illness, or emotional struggles. We can look at our world and feel overwhelmed. Like the disciples, we often feel powerless and cry out, “Lord, don’t you care if we drown?”
Our faith is challenged amidst these storms. We have to constantly remind ourselves that storms are inevitable, but they are not eternal. Even the worst storms pass. As Psalm 34:19 reminds us, “The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.”
Amid this chaos, the question we as Christians often ask ourselves is this: where is Jesus? Even though we might not feel it at times, this passage reminds us that he is in the boat, asleep on a cushion. This reveals a profound truth.
It reminds us of Jesus' humanity. He was exhausted from ministry, needing rest like we do. Jesus was not ignoring the storm – but able to rest in the midst of the worst storm. He did not become frantic unlike the disciples, but remained steadfast in divine peace. While the storm raged, Jesus rested. Why? Because he knew who was in control.
When storms hit, it can feel like God is distant or silent. Yet, scripture tells us that Jesus was always with the disciples, even when they doubted his care. He is with us too. Deuteronomy 31:6 says, “The Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
For those who care deeply about what is happening in our world, in particular those involved in working for environmental and climate justice, this sense of despair and abandonment is very real. In fact we know that there is a serious mental health crisis also due to the fact that young people can see no future due to the destruction of the planet. The science tells us we are running out of time and that our failure to take action is driving us perilously close to planetary tipping points such as melting icesheets, sea level rise and even more powerful storms.
We are facing the perfect storm. Yet in his Letter on the environment, Laudato Si’, which is 10 years old this year, Pope Francis urges not to lose our peace in the face of a doomsday scenario. “May our struggles and our concern for this planet never take away the joy of our hope.” This is challenging to do when everything points us towards catastrophe. It is only possible if we can somehow find God in the storm. But where do we find him?
The clue to finding God in the storm is perhaps revealed in what Jesus did when the disciples woke him. He calmly rebuked the wind and waves, saying, “Quiet! Be still!” And immediately, the storm ceased. It’s quite an extraordinary story!
Notice the disciples’ reaction: “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” This miracle revealed Jesus’ divine authority. He is not just a teacher or prophet—he is the Son of God, sovereign over all creation.
Such are the storms we are facing today, including our ecological crisis, we must remember: our Savior has the power to calm them. Philippians 2:10 says, “At the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.”
Once upon a time we may have interpreted this miracle as Jesus waving a magic wand – as if he could defy the laws of physics. Perhaps the message we need to take from this story today is quite different. Jesus is calling each of us to act together in the storms of today – trusting that our mutual collaboration will draw down his blessings, his presence. We see more clearly now that as people of God, as Christians who share in his divine life, as people of faith and good will, we have a personal and collective responsibility to do our part to navigate the storms and where possible help to calm them. Jesus does not want us to sit back and wait for divine intervention – but step forward in a spirit of unity with courage. It is an invitation to be part-takers in God’s infinite plan of love on Creation. And when we do our part, God can do his. Miracles can happen.
Those miracles are all around us in the many communities which are actively working together to address the social and environmental crisis and protect our shared planet, our common home. We can see this faith-led action emerging here in Belfast through the cross community 4 corners festival and initiatives like ‘Join the Dots’. Right across the world, in every religion, similar work is happening, for example through the Laudato Si’ Movement, which I have the honour to lead. Through this movement we bring together tens of thousands of people who seek to care for our common home as an expression of their faith.
Faith doesn’t mean living in a false reality - ignoring the storm or pretending it doesn’t exist. Faith means trusting that Jesus is greater than the storm. It means remembering his promises, even when circumstances seem dire. Above all, it is a calling to never lose hope that things can change. This is not a false hope or vague optimism, but rooted in a profound belief that we are called to live into the hopeful future God has always dreamed for us. Hope for me is a verb.
Let us remember this as we go forward: the same Jesus who calmed the storm on the Sea of Galilee is the One who calms all storms in our world and lives.
He is the stillness at the centre of the storm. He is with us when we act with courage and resilience and he has authority over all things. We for our part are called as part-takers in his divine love to go forth with courage and proclaim a message of Gospel hope through our words and actions.
Let us place our trust in him, for even the wind and the waves obey his voice..
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