Reflection for July 1 Tuesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 8:23-27

Gospel: 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?”

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Reflection: 

What is faith? 

Faith is the fuel that keeps us moving forward, even in the midst of life’s uncertainties. When the disciples were being tossed by a violent storm, fear suddenly overcame them. They did not cling to their faith in Jesus, even though He was right there with them. That is why Jesus gently rebuked them, saying: “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?” (Matthew 8:26) 

Don’t we also allow ourselves to be paralyzed by our unfounded fears? The fear of dying, the fear of sickness, the fear of the unknown—these often creep into our hearts and steal our peace. We oftentimes allow these uncertainties to paralyze us. 

But what if, instead of giving in to fear, we turn to Jesus in prayer and ask Him to help us befriend death, sickness, and everything else we fear? When we do this, fear will gradually lose its grip on our hearts, and our minds will find true peace in Jesus. 

If we have faith in Jesus, there is nothing in this world that we need to fear. We will remain calm, even when uncertainties swirl around us, because we know that Jesus is with us. Our faith in Him is more than enough to strengthen us and to conquer every worry that weighs us down. 

The next time we face storms in our lives, let us be still, keep calm, and firmly hold on to our faith in Jesus. Even when the path ahead seems unclear, let us continue to trust. Let us continue to believe that Jesus will never forsake those who believe in Him. 

Let us strive to keep a laser-like focus on Jesus, refusing to give fear any space in our hearts. Remember, fear is a tool the devil uses to sway us away from the loving care and protection of Jesus. 

And if you ever feel that your faith is lacking, do not hesitate to humbly ask Jesus to give you the gift of faith. Nourish and strengthen this faith through an active prayer life, by reading the Holy Bible, and by being present at Holy Mass, where Jesus Himself is waiting to embrace you. 

May we all continue to walk each day in faith, choosing Jesus over fear, trusting that He will carry us through every storm we may encounter. - Marino J. Dasmarinas