In this passage from the Gospel of Mark, the episode of the storm calmed by the Lord of history and glory is narrated.
Jesus commands the winds and says to the sea: «Shut up, be quiet!» (Mk 4:39) and, faced with the fear of his own, he calls their faith into question.
Francis, the Herald of the Gospel, a few years after his conversion, guided by the Spirit that pushes the sail of human existence, wished to die for Christ in the proclamation of the Word, overseas.
His encounter with Jesus had made him courageous and tenacious, so much so that he urged his own brothers to abandon all fear as they sailed through the storms of the world.
It is interesting to stop and meditate on a passage from the Sources that portrays Francis in the experience of headwinds.
"Six years after his conversion, inflamed by the desire for martyrdom, he decided to cross the sea and go to the parts of Syria to preach the Christian faith and penance to the Saracens and other infidels.
But the ship on which he had embarked, in order to reach that country, was forced by contrary winds to disembark in the parts of Schiavonia.
He remained there for some time; but then, not being able to find a ship to go to the overseas countries, defrauded in his desire, he begged some sailors, bound for Ancona, to take him with them, for the love of God. He was flatly refused, because he did not have the necessary money.
Then the man of God, putting all his trust in the goodness of the Lord, secretly boarded the ship anyway, with his companion.
A fellow came along - certainly sent by God to help his poor fellow - bringing with him the necessary food.
He called one of the sailors, who had the fear of God, and spoke to him as follows: "Keep all this stuff for the poor brothers who are hiding on the ship: you will give it to them when they need it".
Except that, it happened that, because of the violence, the sailors could not disembark for many days and so consumed all the provisions.
All that was left was the food offered in alms, from above, to poor Francis.
It was very scarce, in truth; but the divine power multiplied it in such a way that it was enough to fully satisfy the needs of all, for all those stormy days, until they could reach the port of Ancona.
The sailors, seeing that they had escaped death many times through the merits of the servant of God, gave thanks to Almighty God, who always shows himself admirable and loving in his friends and servants.
With good reason, for they had experienced at first hand the dreadful dangers of the sea and had seen the admirable works of God in the deep waters" (FF 1170).
We read again of the Poverello:
"Having left the sea, he began to wander the earth, sowing there the seed of salvation and reaping an abundant harvest of good fruits" (FF 1171).
"Comforting himself in the Lord, he prayed confidently and repeated singing that word of the prophet: for even if I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me" (FF 1172).
His faith in Christ made him overcome all fears, sleeping in the stern of unfortunate situations, knowing in Whom he had placed all hope.
«Why are you fearful? Have you no faith yet?»
Saturday 3rd wk. in O.T. (Mk 4:35-41)
