Gospel: Mt 8:23-27
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?”
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A great storm comes up on the sea while Jesus is peacefully asleep. Their boat is soon swamped by strong waves as they cross to the other shore. The situation throws the disciples into panic that they decide to wake Jesus. The disciples cry out, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
Jesus gets up, rebukes the disciples for their little faith, and calms down the winds and the sea.
The “waves” on a stormy sea will remind all disciples (both in early times and in present days) of hardships and trials, sometimes even severe persecutions. Those difficult occasions can teach us how to face challenges with courage and faith in Jesus so that our fears will not immobilize us.
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SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2017” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
