Matthew 8:23-27

Genesis 19:15-29

Psalm 26:2-3, 9-10, 11-12

Matthew 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?”

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.

Encountering the Word of God

1. When God Sleeps: The story of Jesus and the disciples crossing the sea is very applicable to our own lives. Jesus is in the boat of our lives. He dwells within us through grace. When the waves are rough and the wind is strong, it could seem like Jesus is indifferent to our trials and tribulations. Like the disciples, we might even cry out: “Lord, save me! I am perishing!” The disciples learn that although it seems like Jesus is asleep, he is always vigilant and ready to act. He sometimes tests us, but is always asking us to deepen our faith and trust in him: “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?” The terror of the sea and the storms of life have no reason to overcome us. We have Jesus, the Lord of all creation, within the boat of our heart. While the world brings raging storms, Jesus brings peace and calm: “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The LORD is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1).

2. When We Look Back: The tragic story of Lot, his wife, and their two daughters unfolds in the first reading. Earlier, Lot chose to dwell near the sinful cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abram had to rescue him. In the First Reading, two angels were sent to rescue Lot and his family. Lot was hesitant, but, “by the Lord’s mercy,” the two angels seized their hands and led them to safety outside the city of Sodom. Some archaeologists have recently proposed that a Bronze Age city, called Tall el-Hammam, gives evidence of being destroyed in 1650 B.C. by a catastrophic cosmic event – likely an airburst from a meteor or comet that exploded a few miles above the city. The story in the Bible records that Lot’s wife disobeyed the command of the angels and looked back at the city as it was being destroyed. And because of this, she was turned into a pillar of salt. Her actions seem to anticipate the longing of the people of Israel in the desert to return to their slavery in Egypt. She longed for the sinful city of Sodom even as she was being saved from its destruction.

3. Making Psalm 26 Our Prayer: The Responsorial Psalm captures how we ought to pray. It begins by asking the Lord to search us, try us, and test us. In essence, we are asking him to let the waves crash against our boat and the winds drive against us: “Search me, O Lord, and try me; test my soul and my heart.” We ask this not with a presumptuous heart or a desire to show off our strength. We ask to be tested because we are confident in the Lord: “For your mercy is before my eyes, and I walk in your truth.” We ask to be tested because we have Jesus in our boat, even though he seems to be asleep. Next, the Psalm invites us to flee unrighteousness and sinful company. Unlike Lot’s wife, who turned back with longing toward sin, we are to walk in integrity. We humbly ask that the Lord redeem us, just as he sent his angels to rescue Lot from Sodom: “Redeem me, and have mercy upon me.” God’s mercy, narrated in the Gospel and in the First Reading, is before our eyes.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, save me. Rouse your strength and defend me. When I am tempted to think you are asleep or have forgotten me, I need to learn that you are always there in the stern of my boat, ready to help. You are mighty and can calm the forces of evil. You are God and can lead me to safe harbor.

Living the Word of God: The Book of Psalms is a school of prayer. How can I better incorporate the Psalms into my daily prayer? Can I select one in the morning every day during this week or month to pray throughout the day, and see how to model my prayer on it?