Jeremiah 30:1-2, 12-15, 18-22; Matthew 14:22-36
Do not be Afraid: The Lord is in Every Storm to Still it!
Last Sunday, the major theme for this week was hinted at: “I am more than Flesh and Blood: I have a Soul too.” We argued that, a true Christian does everything to save his/her soul and make heaven, instead of focusing on earthly possessions. We also made a case to the effect that life is not meaningless, that God gives meaning to life. Today, our readings present us with life crises and how to go about them.
“If your life is down to nothing,” the saying goes, “God is up to something in your life.” This is a Christian saying for two reasons: 1) you and I did not create ourselves, God did for a purpose; 2) the God who created all things still sustains and directs his creation. So, there will always be storms in every life: ill-health, economic mishaps, political uncertainties, family feuds, enemies of all sorts, betrayals and villainy. In spite of all these storms, “do not be afraid because God is in every storm” to still it!
Notice that the first reading today is basically futuristic, it is cast in the future, not in the here and now. This is the theology of hope: “Hope” is the supernatural gift of God which makes us believe that God will do everything for our justification and salvation (to paraphrase our Catechism). The most beautiful part of today’s prophecy is this line, “His [Judah’s] leader/prince shall be one of his own, and his rulers shall come from his kin” (Jeremiah 30:21). A conquered people dependent on Babylon is promised a prince, a leader. How are they supposed to wait for this prince, given their national disaster of deportation to Babylon?
Our gospel today teaches us, literally, how to weather the storm of life. As the Americans say, “when the going gets tough, the tough gets going.” “Fidelity” to God gets every Christian going in every stormy weather. Remember that it was Jesus who gave the order to his disciples to cross to the other side, in today’s gospel: “Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds” (Matthew 14:13). Jesus did not order them to go and be capsized at sea, but to cross to the other side! And, as faithful disciples, they obeyed. It is no surprise, then, that when the storm arose, Jesus appeared in order to make sure that his instructions were not hijacked even by a physical storm! You know what, it is God who guarantees the realization of his plans, not human beings. Human beings only need to trust and obey God, which we call FIDELITY.
Indeed, it is in the nature of human beings to be afraid and sometimes to doubt. These are not hindrances to fidelity to God. In the midst of doubts and uncertainties, a Christian takes the risk to trust in God; this is called FAITH. This trust manifests itself in obedience and prayer. Take the example of Peter, in our gospel today. “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water,” Peter requests; and, Jesus says to him, come; Peter obeys. Good for Peter, when he started sinking, he prayed: Lord save me! Jesus did save Peter from sinking.
Today, on the one hand, Jeremiah reminds us that God lifts up and out of the thickest of storms those who are faithful to him; on the other, Peter reminds us that God hears the prayers of those who call out to him, “Lord, save me”! If God saved Peter through Jesus Christ, he saves us today through the good actions of our brothers and sister. As we go about our daily tasks today, may we be conscious of the presence of Christ, who helps us to weather every storm!
May God bless you!