John Newton was the son of an English sea captain. When John was ten, his mother died and he went to sea with his father. At 17, however, he rebelled against his father, left the ship, and began living a wild life. Eventually John took a job on a cargo ship that carried slaves from Africa to America. He was promoted rapidly and soon became captain of the ship. Newton never worried about whether slave trade was right or wrong. He just did it. It was a way to make money. Then something happened to change all that. One night a violent storm blew up at sea. Everyone on board was filled with panic. Then Newton did something he hadn’t done since leaving his father’s ship. He prayed. “God, if you will only save us, I promise to be your slave forever.” God heard his prayer and when Newton reached land, he kept his promise and quit the slave trade. Later he studied for the ministry and was ordained pastor of a small church in England. There he won fame as a preacher and as a composer of hymns. One of the most moving hymns Newton wrote (composed) is one that praises God for his conversion. The words read: “Amazing grace! How sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found – Was blind, but now I see . . . . “Through many dangers, toils, and snares I have already come; Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.” The story of John Newton is very similar to the story in today’s gospel. Like Newton, the Apostles got caught in a violent storm. Like Newton, they too cried out to the Lord, “Save us!” Like Newton, they too were changed forever after their prayer was answered. We all know that is utopian to think that we could have a life without worries or troubles. What we wouldn’t give for calm, happy and totally stress free life. Unfortunately we all know too well that life isn’t like that. No matter who we are, or what we do, or how old or young or rich or poor we may be, we all have our worries and troubles and crises. We all encounter storms of one kind or another, bereavements, broken relationships, unemployment, rows, disappointments, illness. It’s part and parcel of life. We often say we are going through hell. Winston Churchill said: “if you’re going through hell, keep going”.

It can be tempting sometimes to feel like the apostles did in the midst of the storm. It can seem like Jesus is asleep. We can think at times he doesn’t care. Our faith is challenged. The message of today’s gospel is very clear. Christ is with us at all times and in every situation. Just as Jesus was present with his disciples in the midst of the storm on the lake, he is present with us in our storms too, helping us to come through them. The apostles knew that they could not cope on their own and in their anxiety and fear they called on Jesus to help them. And he did. In the midst of our anxieties and fears, we are invited to call on Jesus too, for he is always there with us and he hears our cry. The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed constantly to God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.  Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions. But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stunned with grief and anger. “God, how could you do this to me!” he cried. Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island.  It had come to rescue him. “How did you know I was here?” asked the weary man of his rescuers. “We saw your smoke signal,” they replied. It is easy to get discouraged when things are going bad.  But we shouldn’t lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and suffering. Remember, next time your little hut is burning to the ground it just may be a smoke signal that summons the grace of God. For all the negative things we have to say to ourselves, God has a positive answer for it.