Reading
Matthew 8:23-27
23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”
Comment
Before a powerful manifestation of Christ's divinity, the disciples witness a touching expression of his humanity, as Jesus, weary from his ministry, lies asleep.
In the parallel passage of the Gospel of Mark the initiative to get on the boat is taken by the disciples (Mk 4:36) here instead it is Jesus who gets on first and the disciples follow him. The true disciple is called to follow Christ in danger and difficulties.
The sudden wind is frequent in the Lake of Galilee, which lies 208 meters below sea level. Since the Jordanian trench is one of the hottest places in Palestine, sometimes masses of air rush into it, upsetting the lake suddenly.
Jesus could have prevented the storm from unleashing, but the event represents an opportunity to manifest his glory and to confirm the disciples in the faith.
The episode of the sedated storm can also be read under the ecclesial aspect: the community of disciples is in difficulty in the storms of history if the faith is small and weak (Gr. Oligopistoi, "men of little faith"; v. 26). Only with trust in Christ, Lord of the universe, can salvation be obtained. Jesus 'response to the disciples' call attests that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (cf. Jl 2:32; Acts 2:21; Rm 10,13).
The act of Jesus calming the storm calls to mind God who controls the rush of the waters (Ps 65:8; 89:10; 93:3-4; 107:29). There is a parallel between the episode of the calmed storm and that of the crossing of the Red Sea narrated in the book of Exodus (Ex 14) during which the Jews raise their cry for help to God and once freed they have faith in Moses. In the Gospel episode, however, Jesus acts as Lord and not as mediator.
While the waters obeyed Moses by his staff, Joshua by the Ark of the Covenant, and Elisha by his cloak, Jesus commands them only by his word. Nothing can get us salvation more effectively than the word of God, which calms the storms of doubt and fear.
The silence, the "sleep" of God that we often see in the adversities that affect the world, the Church, and individuals is often a cause for scandal, which leads some to doubt the existence of God, others of his love for us. Yet it is often man himself who unleashes storms, brings evil to the world, and then condemns that God whom he deliberately ignores. The darkening of our soul thus becomes the cause that triggers the storms of violence and that arouses fear in those who suffer oppression. But the Lord invites us not to be afraid of those who kill the body but have no power to kill the soul (Mt 10:28).
We do not know the ways of the wind (Jn 3:8) and we cannot control it, but he who releases the wind from his storehouses (Ps 135:7) and gathers it in his hand (Pr 30:4) can give us confidence and comfort in the most stormy days. We will be amazed by the ability of God's word to bring peace to our hearts.
Prayer
Wake up, o Lord, and save us from the dangers that threaten us; so that confirmed in the faith we can raise our praise to your glory. Amen.
- Rev. Dr. Luca Vona
