DAILY GRACE
June 30, 2020, Tuesday of the Thirteenth Week of Ordinary Time
Scripture: Matthew 8:23-27
And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. A gale arose on the lake, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him up, saying, ‘Lord, save us! We are perishing!’ And he said to them, ‘Why are you afraid, you of little faith?’ Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a dead calm. They were amazed, saying, ‘What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?’
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Meditation
“Lord, save us!”
Today’s Gospel paints a dramatic scene for us. Jesus and his disciples are sailing on the sea when suddenly a violent storm breaks out. The rough sea tosses the boat as waves crash over it and fill it with water. We can imagine the power of this storm. The disciples are terrified, afraid for their lives. When they turn to Jesus, however, he is sound asleep! How can he sleep at a time like this? Perhaps he is very tired. But perhaps it is because Jesus is not afraid. His dialogue with the frightened disciples indicates this may be the case, for he asks, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” The disciples are afraid because they don’t have much faith. Jesus, instead, is not afraid because he trusts his Father.
We too want to trust God in a similar way as we encounter storms in life. We know that faith is not a feeling, but a deep belief in all that God has revealed. Our deep beliefs give us the courage to be faithful and to continue on in all of the circumstances of our daily life —– pandemic, cancer, family disputes and all. These beliefs lead us to trust in God’s merciful and powerful love for us.
Just as Jesus intervenes in the storm in today’s Gospel, he also intervenes in our storms and in all that challenges us. Sometimes he does this a dramatic way and at other times he walks along with us, listens to us, encourages us, strengthens us, and gives us the grace we need to be faithful to our commitments and choices. Jesus also brings unimaginable good out of whatever challenges and sufferings we encounter and endure
In the midst of the storm, the disciples turn to Jesus, “Lord, save us!” We are perishing!” This is the key: believing and trusting. We can confidently turn to Jesus for help, for he is faithful and powerful.
Prayer
Lord, what an example you give! Your trust in the Father gave you courage and kept you calm. How I want this! It would help me to reflect more often on your goodness, mercy, and power. If I would remember that you never abandon and are able to bring good out of every circumstance, I would learn to trust more. Deepen these beliefs in my heart, Lord. During the day, remind me to turn to you in all of my challenges.
Contemplation
I place my trust in your saving help.