Tuesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
One of the first things that stands out in the Gospel reading today is the conduct of the disciples. They’re panicking. They’re in danger. They recognize their own mortality and powerlessness in the midst of the storm and they see no way out. In stark contrast to the fear and emotional disquiet of the disciples, however, is Jesus who is resting peacefully in the midst of the tempest. How is this possible? How does He remain unfazed? The short answer is that the peace of Christ is a direct result of His absolute trust in the Providential care of the Father. The disciples would not have panicked if they truly believed that they were wholly in God’s attentive care. Notice also that the moment they finally called upon the Lord and asked for assistance He saved them from danger with the slightest gesture.
We may not find ourselves adrift on the waves of a literal tempest, but each one of us in the course of our lives is forced to recognize that we are finite creatures. We have limits. It is critical, then, that we carefully discern and examine our responses in those instances when we face our limits. Do we panic? Do we despair? Do we get angry? Do we just give up and distract ourselves from reality? Do we press on under the illusion that we can sustain ourselves simply by willing it? Or, when we hit the finite limits of our human nature do we instead turn to the infinite God who desires to save, care for, and provide for our needs in every capacity?
God has given us each free will and has made us masters of our own lives. He thus cannot save us even from ourselves unless we intentionally open ourselves to Him and invite Him in. If, however, we merely call upon Him and place ourselves in His loving care, there is absolutely nothing that He cannot or will not do for us.