Many people have asked me about this moment in the Gospel, especially when their own lives feel stormy and uncertain. The image of Jesus Christ standing in a boat, surrounded by terrified disciples, feels deeply human. We know what it is like to be afraid, to feel powerless, and to wonder where God is when the waves rise high. This question is not just about a miracle long ago—it is about our own hearts today.
In the Gospel, as the wind howls and the sea rages, Jesus appears to be asleep. The disciples cry out, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” His response is striking: He calms the storm with a word and then gently asks, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” Here we see that the miracle is not only about nature obeying Him, but about revealing who He truly is—the Lord of all creation, present even when He seems silent.
The Church has always understood this story as a mirror of the spiritual life. The boat represents our journey of faith, and the storm reflects trials, doubts, suffering, and fear. Jesus being in the boat tells us something essential: God does not promise a life without storms, but He promises His presence within them. Faith does not mean the absence of fear; it means choosing to trust even while fear still trembles in our hearts.
For our daily lives, this passage invites us to turn to Christ in moments of anxiety rather than letting panic rule us. When we pray in the midst of trouble—sometimes with words as desperate as the disciples’ cry—we open ourselves to His peace. Often, the storm around us may not immediately disappear, but something deeper happens: the storm within us begins to quiet. This is the peace Jesus offers—a peace rooted not in circumstances, but in His loving authority and care.
Reflection
When the winds of life grow strong, remember that Christ is already in the boat with you. May we learn to trust His presence and hear His gentle voice saying, “Peace, be still.”
— Fr. John Matthew, for Christian Way.
