Đoạn Tin Mừng của Thánh Mathêô hôm nay rất quang trọng vì có chủ yếu là diễn tả một câu chuyện thật kỳ diệu, để cho chúng ta thấy sức mạnh và quyền năng của Chúa Giêsu, thậm chí Ngài có quyền trên cả vũ trụ và thiên nhiên. Tuy nhiên, trong Tin Mừng này nói nên cho chúng ta biết được là những đòi hỏi nơi mỗi người chúng ta nếu chúng ta thưc sụ muốn theo và làm môn đệ của Chúa Giêsu. Vì như chúng ta thấy, đoạn khởi đầu bài Tin Mừng là các môn đệ đã theo lên một chiếc thuyền theo sau Chúa Giêsu. Khi Chúa Giêsu đã lên thuyền và vào trong khoang thuyền, Ngài đã làm khoang thuyền này trở nên một chỗ cho chúng ta có thể đến với Ngài qua môn đệ, và qua việc từ bỏ mọi thứ mà theo Ngài.
Câu chuyện Tin Mừng hôm nay sẽ trở trở thành một dụ ngôn cho chúng ta thấy về cuộc sống trong Giáo Hội trong sự hiệp nhất với Chúa Giêsu. Các cơn bão dữ dội là một biểu tượng của những khó khăn, những nguy hiểm về sự ngăn cấn và bắt đạo và thậm chí cả những vụ bê bối của các giáo sĩ một cách nghiêm trọng và đang làm đau khổ và ảnh hưởng đến Giáo Hội trên thế giới. Đối mặt với tội lỗi ngay bên trong hội thánh, chúng ta có thể cảm nhận như thấy rằng Thiên Chúa đang ngủ trong con thuyền hội thánh, mà Ngài đã bỏ rơi chúng ta. Như thế, chúng ta cần phải cầu nguyện cho hội thánh, như Chúa Giêsu nói chúng ta cần phải cầu nguyện với lòng can đảm và trong đức tin. Lạy Chúa, trong những thời gian khó khăn và thử thách, Xin Chúa chúc lành cho chúng con và tất cả các thành viên của Giáo Hội có một lòng can đảm vững mạnh hơn và một đức tin sâu sắc hơn.
This passage from Matthew’s Gospel is a fine example of the pedagogical techniques of the Evangelists. They weave together different types of material and so educate us to look into the deeper meanings of the Gospel and consequently into the deeper meaning which we can derive from or give to things that occur in our own lives.
This passage from Matthew is essentially and primarily a miracle story, showing the power of Jesus even over nature. However, within the Gospel it is set after a number of stories about following Jesus, about discipleship. So the passage begins with Jesus getting into a boat and the disciples following him. As Jesus gets into the boat he makes it a place where we can be with him through discipleship, through following him.
The story then becomes a parable of life in the Church in union with Jesus. The violent storm is a symbol of the difficulties, dangers and even scandals which seriously and grievously affect the Church in the world. Facing the sinful side of the church we may often feel that God is asleep, that he has abandoned us. Then we must pray, as Jesus says, with courage and faith. Lord, in times of difficulties, bless us and all members of the Church with greater courage and a deep faith
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. Matthew 8:23–26
While we should understand Jesus’ teachings and actions in a literal sense, the Early Church Fathers also point to a deeper, symbolic meaning—what is known as the Spiritual Sense of Scripture. As the inspired Word of God, the Gospels contain limitless depth and wisdom. The message found in Jesus’ words and actions can be applied to any part of our lives and answer any questions we struggle with.
One such question is how we deal with the storms of life. Some storms come upon us externally, through illness, persecution, or unforeseen trials. When a storm sets in, we often react with fear and anxiety. When the storm is of our own making, such as from sin, the trial is often more severe. Though fear and anxiety are often the ill effects of life’s storms, another more deadly fruit can also arise: the anger that leads to vengeance.
In his preaching on this passage, Saint Augustine offers such an insight: “You have heard an insult—it is the wind; you feel anger—it is the wave. When the wind blows and the waves rise, the ship is in danger; so too, when insults stir your heart, your soul is tossed about and put at risk” (Sermon 63 on the New Testament, 2).
Because we live and interact with sinful people every day, we will inevitably experience the “wind” of an insult which can lead to the “wave” of angry feelings. When that happens, the question is: What am I going to do with that angry feeling? Augustine warns that insults, which stir up anger, pose a real spiritual danger. He continues: “If, upon hearing an insult, you desire vengeance, the storm swells within you. And behold, if you take vengeance, you may think you have triumphed—but in rejoicing over another’s harm, you have suffered shipwreck yourself.”
At some point, we have all allowed a storm to swell within us by seeking vengeance, which inevitably leads to our downfall. When anger gives way to irrational arguments, judgment, condemnation, or passive aggression—such as the “silent treatment”—our “boat” begins to sink. Just as the wind and waves battered the Apostles, leading them to fear, so too does anger batter us, driving us toward vengeance and making things worse. In such moments, there is only one remedy: to cry out with the Apostles, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
What a perfect prayer in the midst of a trial that is turning into a storm! Had the Apostles ignored the presence of the Son of God—who was with them, asleep, awaiting their call—the storm would have continued, and they might have been shipwrecked. But they cried out, seeing that things were getting out of control.
When Jesus woke up, He first gently rebuked them, saying, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?” Applying this to our analogy of anger and vengeance, we can hear our Lord asking, “Why did you allow anger to take hold of you and swell into a storm?” Though Jesus, in His mercy, can calm the storm caused by our sin, a deep and abiding faith helps us to forgive the initial insult before it takes root, preventing it from growing into anger and vengeance.
Reflect today on any initial “wind” that tempts you toward anger. Choose to forgive and offer mercy in return. If a storm is already brewing in your heart, cry out to Jesus as the Apostles did. Though at times it might seem as if our Lord is asleep, He is always with you. Reject fear and anger the moment they begin to stir; but if they do arise, call upon Him in faith: “Lord, save me! I am perishing!” He will calm the storm.
My sleeping Lord, I know that You are always with me, calling me to faith and obedience to Your Word. Strengthen me in moments of temptation, that I may remain faithful and choose mercy over vengeance. When storms arise from my sin, forgive me, Lord, and calm the tempest within, healing the wounds caused by my lack of faith. Jesus, I trust in You.
Opening Prayer: Lord God, I do not want to be of little faith. I want to grow in my faith and trust in you each day. I have no reason to be terrified, for you are my Lord and my God. Save me, O Lord. Calm the winds around me and speak to me in the stillness of my heart.
1. The Temptation of Anxiety: One of the themes that comes out repeatedly in the Gospel of Matthew is the contrast between worldly anxiety and filial trust. The Sermon on the Mount contrasted these two ways of living: Will we be anxious about our earthly needs – food, drink, clothing – or will we trust in our heavenly Father to care for us and provide? The theme is present in today’s Gospel: will the disciples be overcome by fear of the wind and the waves, or will they trust in Jesus, who is with them in the boat? “The disciples who follow Jesus across the lake are immediately put to the test. Water pours into the boat – it is being swamped by waves – and the disciples fear for their lives. They desperately cry out, ‘Lord, save us! We are perishing!’ As they surrender to their fears, Jesus reprimands them for having little faith – an allusion to those he mentioned earlier who are filled with anxiety and do not trust the heavenly Father” (Mitch and Sri, The Gospel of Matthew, 130).
Opening Prayer: Lord, I come to you today to give you thanks for all the blessings in my life. Please help me to remember that, no matter how dark this life gets for me, you are always in my boat and always ready to restore calm in my heart.
In the Darkest Times, Pray: “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” comes from Psalm 130 and is a de profundis prayer: “Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications” (v. 1-2). Psalm 130 is the official prayer of the Church for the Holy Souls in Purgatory. It is the prayer offered at the darkest times of our lives, when we feel completely powerless to help ourselves. Jesus sleeping in the midst of a storm is a very powerful image of God’s sovereignty over even the darkest times in our lives. St. Therese of Lisieux used to meditate on this passage in times of inner confusion or darkness. Yet she wouldn’t wake the Lord. For her, it was enough just to sit beside him as he slept.
How can we fight fear with faith? Jesus' sleeping presence on the storm-tossed sea reveals the sleeping faith of his disciples (Matthew 8:25). They feared for their lives even though their Lord and Master was with them in the boat. They were asleep to Christ while he was present to them in their hour of need.
Why are you afraid?
Faith nourished with the word of God
Let the love of Christ rule your heart and mind
"Lord Jesus, increase my faith in your redeeming love and power that I may always recognize your abiding presence with me. Give me courage and strength to face every difficulty, trial, and temptation with trust in your saving help and guiding presence."
Introductory Prayer: Lord, I come to you in this meditation, ready to do whatever it is you ask. Left to myself, I often take the easy and convenient path, yet I know the way of a Christian is through the narrow gate. In you, I find the reason to abandon the easy path for a more perfect mission of love. I’m ready to learn the meaning of your command: “Follow me.”
May I trust the power of Christ just as much when he chooses not to act as when he does.
3. God’s Eternal Pedagogy: Water, a boat, the apostles and Christ… this scene repeats itself over and over again in the Gospel. Water is a symbol of the experiences of life taken on a human level; the boat is the experience of faith on a supernatural level -- it is our life with Christ. Christ’s message is that we can never let our experiences of life overwhelm our experience of faith. We have to live not from the surface level of impressions of the moment, but from the deep channel of faith that reveals the action of God, the wisdom of his Providence and the ultimate destiny of eternity. Faith is what reveals Christ’s presence in our boat; faith is what makes us believe that every wave and wind gust are blessed invitations to confide in the One who rules all. Faith is what permits God to console our hearts, calm our fears and preserve our joy in the midst of problems and difficulties that may take months or years to run their course.
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