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Rev. Fr.
Emmanuel Emenike Onyia
WHY
ARE YOU SO FRIGHTENED, YOU MEN OF LITTLE FAITH?
The
Fisher men and the Marine men who are into sea business can tell us better what
it means to be on the sea with heavy storms. A situation where the need to look
for a Saviour is highly expected. Such was the case with the disciples of Jesus
in our Gospel passage today. It is a story about the disciples' panic and fear
of perishing as a result of the heavy storm that is effecting their boat.
With
this heavy storm breaking their boat, the disciples cannot believe that Jesus
was asleep while they were afraid and needed help from anywhere. So they went
to him and woke him saying, ‘Save us, Lord, we are perishing!’ And he said to
them, ‘Why are you so frightened, you men of little faith?’ And with that he
stood up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and all was calm again. The men
were astounded and said, ‘What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the sea
obey him.’
This
story signifies God's chosen people on a transit of faith, frightened by the
guilt of sin and wounded by the waves of the sea, the abode of evil forces and
monsters of this world. The boat can be taken as a symbol of the faith of the
Church and the people of God struggling with the world’s principalities and
powers, while the storm is a symbol of heavy persecutions and suffering by the
people of God. And Jesus is saying: why are you so frightened, you men of
little faith.
Today
Jesus is calling us to journey on this boat of life with an unwavering faith
and a repented heart, because the world is being tossed around by the waves of
evil forces, the enemies of humanity. And it is only God who can subdue it, for
he has promised to restore us back to himself, just like Lot and his family in our
first reading today. For the angels
urged Lot, ‘Come, take your wife and these two daughters of yours, or you will
be overwhelmed in the punishment of the town of Sodom and Gomorrah and so they
escaped the destruction.
Dear friends, why are you so frightened by
the storms of this passing world? Why is your faith shaking because of your
present situation? Though, I don't know the great storms of doubt and fear in
your soul? I don’t know if you are under the power of the evil forces of this
world. I do know if you are in the town of Sodom and Gomorrah. I don’t know if
you are heading to destruction? All I know is that with great faith in God, the
heavy storms in our lives will become calm, for Jesus and his angels will
surely rebuke the violent storms in our hearts so that we can experience once
again the calmness of safety, peace and joy.
LET US
PRAY: O God. As we struggle everyday to overcome the ugly situation around us,
grant that the violent storms and waves of bondage in our lives will end in a
wonderful calm that brings peace in our souls, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Wishing you a fruitful and joyful day
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