In the last week's Catholic Newsweek there was a testimony of a 28 years old man, whose name is Thomas Lam. He has been in hospital because of SARS.
"Before I became ill I did not think I needed God and probably never thought I needed anyone. In some ways I was a bit arrogant, I thought I could do everything myself. My experience in hospital has changed my perspectives on many things. It was my first time in hospital," he explained. "The loneliness in the isolation ward was frightening at times. There was no TV or radio and in the early days we were not allowed to have mobile phones either."

Thomas spoke lovingly about his older sister."She was so kind. She brought me things I needed and reading material," he said. "She is a Christian and she brought me some books about prayer. I used them. They told me not to ask God to do things for me, but to put my life at God's disposal. I found I was able to pray that way, and afterwards I felt better and peaceful.--- My sister told me on the telephone that talking to God is like talking to a friend. I found I could pray that way too. I felt peaceful after that. Mostly I asked God to protect my family, my girlfriend, who was also in hospital with SARS and my work colleagues."

Thomas was watching TV in his home when he noticed he was a bit off colour. He also had a slight fever, but because it came and went he went to work next day. However, his condition quickly detoriated and the following evening he went to the doctor. He had a lung X-ray, but it showed nothing.
The next day, suffering from a high fever, he went to hospital and was admitted. He found it was impossible to sleep as the steroids make you alert and give energy to the body which it cannot use. "I was so weak, I could not even move my arm to pull up the quilt on my bed. The lights are always on in the ward so the staff can monitor the patients and it is noisy. I did not really sleep for 20 days." - It was like a storm in his life.

In today's gospel the disciples are also in storm. The Sea of Galilee was very familiar to them, because they were fishermen. At this time they still were not prepaired for the furious squall and waves which broke over their boat. They were frightened, but Jesus was in the stern, just sleeping on the cushion.

"Talking to God is like talking to a friend."
The disciples woke Jesus and said to him:"Don't you care if we drown?" Jesus got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!"

The most beautiful midsummer is here now. Yesterday was the summer solstice; the day and night were equally long.
Finland is the country of thousands of lakes. At this time of the year most Finns want to have their summervacation and go to the summerhouses which should be by a lake. There they want to spend time, but there they may also experience the power of a storm.
We, who are living here in Asia, know very well what the typhoons and earthquakes are.

In the lives of people there may also be times of storms. They may be named too: unemployment, bankruptcy, illness, divorce, death etc. The nearest "storm" we have had here in Hongkong has been the SARS. It has affected the whole society and left much of sorrow into many families. You know your own days during that time. To us - Finnish missionaries - it was a storm back home, where we met the fear and rejection of other people - even our friends. We were like the disciples, wondering if Jesus is asleep.
But he was not. Today we may rejoice; very soon Hongkong will be removed from the WHO-list of the SARS-affected countries. "This is the day that the Lord has made. We shall rejoice and be glad in it."

Life is going on. Storms keep coming and going. This is the reason why we need God like Thomas Lam needed him. We need Jesus and we need Holy Spirit.
According to the tradition, next tuesday (24.6.) is John the Baptist's birthday. He was preparing the way for Jesus. He baptized in the desert region and preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Many people came and confessing their sins they were baptized by John in the Jordan River.
After him came Jesus. John the Baptist said:"Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" Jesus was proclaiming the good news of God. "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news." And again many came and believed. The storms of life were calmed also: Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, opened the eyes of blind.

Since then the gospel has been preached around the world. We have heard it and come to believe in Jesus. We are baptized, too. We are the witnesses in the world today. People must hear and know that they need Jesus.
Thomas Lam says that suffering from SARS is like an end and a beginning. An old life is giving way to a new one. He said:"I will never have the arrogant or selfish attitudes again and I will try to share my life with my friends and family, and remember that I really do need them and I need God."

After Jesus had calmed the storm, he said to his disciples,"Do you still have no faith?" Hopefully he must never say these words to us. In every "storm" of life we can trust Him, because even the wind and the waves obey him!
As it is written in Matthew 28:18 and 20:
Jesus said:"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me...And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
He is risen, He lives and His saving power is the same! "Because He lives I can face tomorrow. Because He lives I shall not fear..."