I must have been around five years old when, one evening, I packed some things in a little suitcase and announced to my mother that I was leaving…for good. I remember the unworried look on my mother’s face, who responded with a gentle smile, “ok, good luck!” I was taken aback a bit by her lack of care for my wellbeing, but I walked out the front door and proceeded to walk away. I stopped and looked back, half-expecting my mom would be coming after me…but no one was there. In my little heart, I wondered, “Mom, do you not care?” Realizing I had nowhere to go, I turned around and went back home.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus was asleep on the boat as a storm was tossing them about. The disciples woke him and said:

“Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”

He quieted the storm and asked them,

“Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?”

Did my mom care that I wanted to run away? Of course, she cared! She was probably looking from the window, making sure I remained safe. I did not see the full picture, so my conclusion was incorrect. The disciples on the boat also made wrong conclusions. Even while asleep on the boat, Jesus was watching over them.

Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).

Why do we feel terrified any time the waves around us overwhelm us? Perhaps our faith is in our own limited vision.

“Continue to be like a little child in a boat which God is navigating. Leave the care of the future to the Good Lord; yours is to be ready to fulfill his holy Will.” – Saint Peter Julian Eymard.

Let us pray:

Lord, when our hearts are burdened and seek someone who cares, let us hear your voice saying, “I will never forget you” (Isaiah 49:15)