The Great Storm

Gospel: Matthew 8: 23-27

This Gospel story is often called the Storm at Sea, and indeed we find such in the story.  The disciples and Jesus are in a boat at night, and a storm of nature comes upon them.  But that's not the real storm.  The real storm is the one that exists within the hearts of Jesus' disciples.  They are frightened and distraught.  They scream and plead for help, all the while Jesus is asleep during both the storm of nature and the storm raging within his disciples.

When Jesus wakes up, he rebukes his disciples, not the storm.  He addresses the real storm in this story:  you all lack faith.  You are troubled by this trifling natural storm, and why? Either you will survive the storm and all will be well, or you will die.  Why are you afraid to die?  If you had authentic faith you would have no such fear, for you would be in union with God continually, a union that casts our all fear and darkness in our lives.  

Jesus then rebukes the natural storm, and the natural storm goes away.  However, this does not dispel the storm that exists within Jesus' disciples.  That storm will die down for now, but that storm still lurks within them - and us.  How often do we lose our perspective and composure.   How little it takes for us to be in the rage of the storm within.  Let us attend to our souls and be at peace with God and with one another, seeking to calm the storm within.