Luke 8:21-25: a reflection

21But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.” 22Now on one of those days, he entered into a boat, himself and his disciples, and he said to them, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” So they launched out. 23But as they sailed, he fell asleep. A wind storm came down on the lake, and they were taking on dangerous amounts of water. 24They came to him and awoke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are dying!” He awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water; then they ceased, and it was calm. 25He said to them, “Where is your faith?” Being afraid, they marveled, saying to one another, “Who is this then, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?”

Jesus and his disciples set out across the lake, and Jesus, weary, falls asleep in the boat. A fierce storm descends; the boat begins to fill with water, and the disciples, terrified, wake him: Master, Master, we are perishing! Jesus wakes, rebukes the wind and the raging water, and at once there is calm. Then he asks them, Where is your faith? And the disciples, amazed, ask one another, Who is this, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?

Notice the disciples' terror, and the question it leaves them with. In the storm, they were sure they were perishing, overwhelmed by a danger beyond their control; and Jesus, with a word, stilled the storm that terrified them. Their fear gave way to a deeper astonishment: who is this? The one asleep in their boat had authority over the very winds and waves. The storm that seemed about to destroy them was subject to his command.

That scene speaks to the storms of our own lives. There are times when we feel we are perishing, overwhelmed by troubles beyond our control, and we cry out in fear. But the one who commands the wind and the waves is with us in the boat; the storm that terrifies us is subject to his authority. When you are in a storm and feel you are perishing, remember who is with you: the Christ who has authority over the storm. Bring your fear to him; he is not indifferent, though he may seem asleep, and he is able to still what overwhelms you. And let his question search you: where is your faith? The one who commands the winds and the waves is in your boat; trust him in the storm, for even the wind and the water obey him.

Lord Jesus, when the storm terrified your disciples and they cried out that they were perishing, you rebuked the wind and the waves into calm, and asked, where is your faith?; and they marveled, who is this, that even the winds and water obey him? Speak to me through that scene about the storms of my life. There are times when I feel I am perishing, overwhelmed by troubles beyond my control, and I cry out in fear. But you, who command the wind and the waves, are with me in the boat; the storm that terrifies me is subject to your authority. When I am in a storm and feel I am perishing, help me remember who is with me: the Christ who has authority over the storm. Help me bring my fear to you; you are not indifferent, though you may seem asleep, and you are able to still what overwhelms me. And let your question search me: where is my faith? You who command the winds and waves are in my boat; help me trust you in the storm, for even the wind and the water obey you.