What Sort Of People Are We?
As Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him.
Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea,
so that the boat was being swamped by waves;
but he was asleep.
They came and woke him, saying,
“Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?”
Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea,
and there was great calm.
The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this,
whom even the winds and the sea obey?” (Mt 8:23-27)
What sort of man is this?
Really?
They actually asked that question?!
Today’s gospel reminds us just how quickly we can lose trust in our Lord.
Remember, this gospel passage is not taking place when the disciples were newly acquainted with the Lord. Far from it. They had already been eyewitnesses to several great miracles: raising from the dead, healing lepers, expelling demons, restoring sight, physical healings of all kinds, and much, much more. They celebrated God’s great love and witnessed many bold deeds accomplished by Jesus.
Yet, how quick they are to lose faith. Get into a little hot water or, in this case, a stormy sea, and they take their eyes off of the Lord and concentrate upon their own misery and their own fear.
Fear does that to us.
It pulls us from God.
We fail to trust in Him in those times.
Jesus challenged their lack of faith even as He calmed the seas.
We may be in many storms in our lives — emotional, physical, spiritual — and we may be tempted to doubt. We might not trust God because our fear is telling us that the only person we can trust is our own self.
Do not let fear lead you astray.
Trust in God.
FAITH ACTION: Pray the following Prayer for Trust by Ignatius of Loyola
O Christ Jesus, when all is darkness and we feel
our weakness and helplessness, give us the sense
of Your presence, Your love, and Your strength.
Help us to have perfect trust in Your protecting
love and strengthening power, so that nothing
may frighten or worry us, for, living close to You,
we shall see Your hand, Your purpose, Your will
through all things.