13TH WEEK OF  ORDINARY TIME – YEAR C, TUESDAY

Theme: Wherever Jesus is, the storms of life become calm – fear not

By: Rev. Fr. Fredrick Kiwanuka

Mathew 8:23-27

“Where is your courage? How little faith you have! With these words, Our Lord chides His disciples. But they are also directed to us. He also chides us about being fearful about so many things. So often we are anxious about so many things without much confidence in God’s goodness and power.

We need no proof that fear is very widespread. The poor are afraid that they cannot make ends meet. The rich are afraid they may lose their wealth. The less educated are afraid of conversation with the more educated lest they be put to shame. The educated often are afraid of losing social position and prestige. Then you have the superstitious who are afraid of all kinds of nonsense, like black cats!

People without religion or faith are fearful of the uncertainties of life and especially of death. But it is very sad and surprising to find people with faith, religious people with vain, empty fears. They are like the disciples in the Gospel today. Although our Lord himself was right there with them in the boat when they were caught in the storm, they still cried out, “Lord, save us! We are lost” Jesus in His goodness calmed the sea, but He reproached them for their lack of faith and for their fear in spite of His presence. “Where is your courage? How little faith you have!”

The same rebuke Jesus addresses to us for our foolish fears. We forget that He is ever-present in our lives. And so we fear for our health, we are afraid for our children, for our homes. There are, of course, healthy fears or healthy concerns. We should take necessary precautions for our lives, our families, for our moral well-being and for the spiritual welfare of our dear ones. We should have a healthy fear of sin.

But there are so many foolish fears that hinder our work, our happiness and our spiritual life. These are the fears for which our Lord calls us and asks us to simply remember His constant presence in our lives! In the presence of Jesus, the most terrible of the tempests turns to calm. There is calm and comfort in His presence.

When cold, in sorrow, when passion blows, there is peace and security in His presence. When doubt seeks to uproot the very foundations of our faith, in every storm that shakes the human heart, there is peace with Jesus Christ.

@Christ the King Parish, Kampala