Posted by The WORD in other words (2006) by Father Gerardo Donato SVD – Christ the King Seminary, Quezon City
Tuesday 13th Week in Ordinary Time
Inside the bus on a long trip, a man noticed a little girl sitting alone, unaccompanied. Concerned, he approached her and asked: “My dear little girl, are you not afraid to be traveling alone on this long trip? Do you know where you are going?” The little girl answered: “Sir, I am not afraid, for the driver of this bus is my father. I trust him to bring me where I am going.”
Today’s Gospel is a familiar story. Jesus calms not only the storm and the sea but also the fear of His disciples who were with Him in the boat: “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?” (Matthew 8:26). This is not only a story of His power over nature but also of His loving presence and care during the “storms” and fears of our lives.
Fear is something we experience daily — fear for the safety of our families, fear of losing a job, fear of sickness, fear of sudden death while traveling. Even though Scripture repeatedly encourages us to trust the Lord — “Do not be afraid, for I am with you” (Isaiah 41:10) — fear is not easily erased.
The disciples themselves, despite witnessing Jesus’ miracles, often lived in fear. Yet Jesus promised: “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20), and “the gates of hell shall not prevail against my Church” (Matthew 16:18). Still, they struggled with anxiety, just as we do.
Fear is never easy, but we cannot afford to live enslaved by it. The early Christians, when threatened by persecution, turned to prayer — sometimes even a prayer of protest, crying out to the Lord who seemed silent. Prayer was their way of “waking Him up.” And so it must be for us.
Jesus rising to calm the storm is the Gospel’s way of assuring us that in difficult times, He alone hears our prayer, ends our fear, and restores peace. “Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). Intense crisis demands intense faith. Intense fear demands intense prayer.
Is there something causing fear and anxiety in your life right now? Like the little girl in the story, it is time to take Jesus as your official and personal “driver” — to entrust your journey to Him who alone can bring you safely and calmly to your destination.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, calm the storms in my life. Drive me safely through fear and anxiety, and bring me to the peace that only You can give. Amen.
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