A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew
Jesus 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.
In today’s Gospel, Matthew tells the story of Jesus and the disciples who follow him. He gets in a boat. Shortly afterward, a violent storm on the Sea of Galilee overtakes them. Although waves are sinking the boat, Jesus is asleep in the back of it. The disciples wake him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” Jesus responds by rebuking them for their lack of faith and then stands up and rebukes the winds and the sea. Suddenly, there was a great calm. With amazement, the disciples say, “What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and the sea obey?” Matthew depicts Jesus’ divine power over nature and the importance of having faith in him even in the most difficult situations.
God, help me understand the role of faith in my relationship with you. It’s easy to see that the storm in the Gospel could be any disquieting situation in life. During it, you are present and in control of the circumstances. Just as you led Lot to safety from great destruction, help me trust that you will guide me safely to freedom, away from any threat to my faith in you. From the responsorial psalm, “Search me, O LORD, and try me; test my soul and my heart.”
The Gospel acclamation says, “I trust in the LORD; my soul trusts in his word.” Lord, help me trust that you can rebuke any storm that the day throws at me. Grant me your peace. May the Holy Spirit, the bond of love between the Father and the Son, be the bond of love among this nation and among all peoples.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.