“The disciples followed Jesus into the boat” (Mt 8: 23). Doesn’t seem like there is anything shocking there. We are all very familiar with this narrative description. However, the fate of that boat is now securely fastened to the Lord. Sounds like the best insurance policy, no? The disciples, assured that Jesus is a decent man and the boat is in decent shape, get in.

“And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but He was asleep.” It is in the Gospel of Mark that we hear the fretful cry (humanity is stressed within Mark’s Gospel), “Do you not care, Lord, that we are perishing? (Mk 4:38). It is curious. The disciples don’t fully realize who their Rabbi is. This is Jesus Christ, God incarnate, through Whom all things were made—both seen and unseen. “And He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid, O men of little faith?’ Then He rose and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.” (Mt 8:26).

“Why are you afraid?” A very powerful question to hear Our Lord Jesus say to us in prayer. Imagine for a moment, a roller coaster at Six Flags Great America. Some crazy rides are there. The advantage we have as paying and willing customers is that we see the entire roller coaster from start to finish before we even get on. So, you know what lies in store. We don’t have this advantage in life. However, seeing your entire fate before your eyes as you wait in line is actually not the reason why you are more than willing to hop on. The reason we are willing to get in is because of the safety harness. With that safety harness strapping us in, we don’t care what kind of insane storm of twists and turns the ride takes us on. “Why are you afraid?”

Our Lord, asleep in the boat is the anchor that keeps the boat afloat. He is resting, or abiding in the Father. The disciples finally made the right call when they finally stopped fighting the storm (of the world, of politics, violence, false teachings, hatred) with their own strength and instead went within, found Jesus there and allowed the Lord to be Lord of Heaven and Earth.

If there is too much concerning your heart, disturbing your mind and peace, then go within your heart of hearts and find Jesus there… “Why are you afraid?”

Many parishioners at Saint Andrew have very successful careers in medicine and work tirelessly for the health and healing of others. When they go to their places of work, they may often pass by a logo that we have often come to associate with a hospital known as the Rod of Asclepius or possibly the Caduceus (the two are slightly different and often confused or used interchangeably). These are sticks/poles which rise upwards as a snake is intertwined around the pole. While based on Greek mythology from around the 4th century BCE, there was a very similar symbol that preceded the Rod of Asclepius known as the Nehushtan from around the 7th Century BCE. 

Both the Rod of Asclepius and the Nehushtan are symbols that were crafted to prescribe healing for the onlooker and the history of the Nehushtan is the story discussed in the First Reading at Mass today. In the book of Numbers from which we read, there is a plague of fiery serpents that has come upon the Israelite people and Moses is instructed to take a snake and put it on a pole for all to see. The miracle God enacts through Mosses' faithful application of his instruction is that anyone who sees the serpent on the pole is made well. 

Like many symbols in human record, it is fascinating that multiple cultures pick up on the same concept. It becomes a matter of speculation, but not far from the realm of possibility that the symbol itself must of had some deeper roots in more ancient cultures. But why? And why would multiple cultures, each with different stories and beliefs suggest that looking up toward something that was poisonous offer some sort of healing? 

If that question gets you thinking, then it is a good place to insert another powerful thought. What do we expect to gain by looking up at a crucifix? 

As Catholics, we are so used to seeing crucifixes everywhere we go that we become almost numb to their impact. When we stop and really think about it, a crucifix is astonishingly gross. It's a dying man, beaten, sullied, humiliated, and defeated. And yet, today in the Church we celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, and in our liturgical celebration, we remind ourselves of the importance of the Cross by first reading the story of the Nehushtan. Both share a common heritage in that they are both signs of contradiction with the same pattern. They suggest that healing comes from viewing the source of the injury. They instruct us that part of healing is acknowledging the pain. 

This may seem like a contradiction. Yes. The cross is a contradiction, and there is joy in that contradiction! It stretches from left to right and from up to down. It pulls us into the pain of Jesus and relieves us from pain through the example of love made flesh living out his truth. It shows us the scandalous peril of the human race that would entertain such violence upon another person and the tremendous love that God bears for us by accepting death on a cross.

But central to this contradiction, at least as we see from the example of Moses and the Nehushtan, is that we must look upon the sign of contradiction not look away. In today's world, even with the tragic events that took place this past week of assassinations in Utah, strikes in Qatar, and devastating strikes in Gaza, it can be so tempting to look away, to ease the discomfort by ignoring the pain. But that's not what God asks us to do. 

I'm not suggesting that we fixate on or stare into human absurdity with some sort of perversion. But we are all seeking transformation and healing from the very pain that we are part of. Christ has transcended that pain and we enter more fully into Christ when we look to his Cross and see beyond it toward the Resurrection. 

My prayer for us this week is that the Exultation of the Cross is a moment for us to look into the pain present in the world today and to not grow complacent. Rather, may we sharpen our resolve to be the peacemakers Christ has called us to be as, with his help, we work towards the world's transformation. 

Parent Workshop

Join us September 25th at 8:15am in the school auditorium for a Parent workshop led by Pediatric Occupational Therapist, Erin Anderson. We will take a deep dive into understanding fine and gross motor milestones, explore the importance of early intervention, and gain tools to help your child with self-regulation. This session is free to the public for parents and caregivers with children ages 2-7. Register here

Bulldog Buddies

For parents and caregivers, please join us for another exciting session of Bulldog Buddies. Children will experience our school setting in a safe, nurturing environment with Free Play, Circle TIme, Crafts, and Story Time. Children must turn 2 by September 1, 2025. Tuesdays and Fridays from 8:00am - 9:30am, September 30th through November 21st. Register here

Discover the Difference with Saint Andrew School! 

Are you seeking a nurturing and enriching educational environment for your child? Look no further than Saint Andrew School, where Catholic Education comes to life through faith, excellence, and community. Our dedicated faculty inspires students to achieve their full potential academically, spiritually, and socially. At Saint Andrew, we blend rigorous academics with character-building values, fostering a sense of purpose and belonging. Experience our vibrant campus, where every student is known, loved, and challenged to grow. Choose Saint Andrew School today and invest in a brighter future for your child. Enroll now and join our family! We have an upcoming tour on October 14th at 9am. Sign up for a tour here: schedule a tour New student applications for the 25-26 can be found here: New Student Application