The day after Christmas in 2004, there was a large earthquake which produced a tsunami of inconceivable proportion. It killed more than 200,000 in twelve different countries. It was the most devastating natural disaster in recorded history.

Just a few months later, in mountainous Pakistan, a huge flood raged, killing more than 500, leaving many homeless.

In June of 2006, there was severe flooding in India which swept away more than 1,200 people.

In August of that same year, a late-season hurricane named Katrina created a most devastating disaster in North America, killing over 1,700.

We in Iowa remember, just a year ago, the devastation of flooding in so many of our communities, wreaking damage that will take years to rebuild.

Yes, our experience tells us, we need to be fearful of water, particularly when it is part of a storm.

None of us experienced first hand, any of those terrible water disasters. Yet, each one of us here, has been surrounded by sudden storms, when our trust in God is tested and we wonder if Jesus cares and even knows what's happening to us. There are times when God seems absent, when no matter how much or how hard we pray, God remains silent, distant and detached from our lives.
When cancer that has been in remission for years suddenly and unexpectedly reappears;
When the test results are the very worst we feared;
When the unimaginable happens to our children;
When Alzheimer's cruelly steals the memories from someone we love

We find ourselves adrift in a thrashing sea with our boats on the brink of capsizing. We call out to Jesus for an answer to the chaos we feel and he responds with silence and appears to be sleeping through the turbulence of it all.

We grumble in fear and frustration, just like the disciples -- "What about our faith? We've trusted you; we've worked hard and lived good lives. We pray every day and rarely miss Mass. But now, things are really tough, tougher than they have ever been. Please Lord, please . . . we need your help to calm the storm in our lives! Don't you care that we are perishing?"

Sometimes there just isn't an answer for the question of suffering. Our faith is not a guarantee that the waters will be calm and that we won't be overtaken by storms.
Our prayers will not always resolve our fears and threats. Jesus will sometimes be silent and seem like he's asleep. And when he finally awakens it may only be to chide us -- "Why are you so terrified? Why are you so lacking in faith?"

Perhaps we can learn something from Peter, in another story of Jesus and water. Remember when Jesus comes walking on the water, and invites Peter to come to him? Peter gets out of the boat and walks to Jesus. But when he hesitates, looks down at his feet, he begins to sink.

If we remain focused on Jesus, we probably will survive whatever storm may come our way. It is when we focus on ourselves, that we get into serious problems and begin to sink.

In times of turbulence, may we pray: "Lord, I do trust you . . . honestly. I'm upset with you, but I'm staying in the boat even though I'm scared to death and hanging on for dear life.
And whatever storms come my way, I know, Lord, that you'll always be with me that you will never leave me . . . no matter what."