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The Storms of Life
Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and precede him to the
other side, while he dismissed the crowds. After doing so, he went
up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was
there alone. Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was
being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it.
During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them, walking
on the sea. Matthew 14:22–25
Only God, in His perfect Wisdom, could convey profound spiritual
meaning through Jesus’ human actions. Though His miracles reveal
His divinity and His teachings articulate divine mysteries, so does
every subtle movement He makes—each one working together to
prophetically depict the full Gospel. The Church, from her earliest
centuries, has come to recognize and contemplate these deeper
layers through what is known as the allegorical and spiritual sense
of Scripture.
On the surface, today’s Gospel reveals Jesus’ divinity simply
through His walking on the water. Yet beneath the surface, other
mysteries are unveiled. The mountain, the solitude, the prayer, the
storm, the boat, the fear, and Jesus’ words all communicate
something of Christ’s saving mission and of our journey through
life with Him.
Jesus goes up the mountain alone to pray. In Scripture, mountains
are places of divine encounter—Moses and Elijah encountered God on
Mount Sinai, and Jesus was transfigured before the disciples on
Mount Tabor. In today’s Gospel, the mountain signifies Jesus’
communion and heavenly intercession with the Father. He ascends
alone, leaving the disciples behind, just as He would ascend to the
Father after the Resurrection—remaining with us spiritually while
we, the Church, continue our pilgrimage through the storms of this
world.
While Jesus is in prayer, the disciples struggle in the boat,
tossed by waves, with the wind against them. The boat represents
the Church amid the turmoil of the world. The waves symbolize
trials, temptations, and fears that rise without warning. And
though Jesus seems physically distant, He is never inattentive. In
fact, it is precisely in the hour of greatest distress that He
draws near.
Jesus comes to them in the fourth watch of the night—the final and
darkest stretch before dawn. This is the hour of the soul’s deepest
desolation, when one feels most abandoned, most vulnerable, most
helpless. Yet it is also the very moment when divine help arrives.
Jesus walks toward them on the sea, using the very waves that
threatened to destroy them as the path of His approach. The storm
does not hinder Him; He walks above it, showing His authority over
chaos and His power to transform even the fiercest trials into a
means of His presence.
But the disciples do not recognize Him. They cry out in fear,
thinking He is a ghost. This reveals a spiritual truth: In our
moments of fear and confusion, we can misperceive even the presence
of Christ. When our hearts are unsettled and our faith is shaken,
we may not see clearly the One who comes to save us.
Then Jesus speaks words that echo through every age: “Take courage,
it is I; do not be afraid.” In Greek, the phrase “it is I”—egō
eimi—is the divine Name revealed to Moses: “I AM.” This is not
only reassurance, it is a revelation of Jesus’ divine identity.
With this declaration, Jesus does more than calm the sea—He calms
the soul, inviting the disciples to place their trust not only in
what He does, but in who He is.
Reflect today on any storm in your life in which you feel God is
absent and the waves are overwhelming. Imagine Jesus walking toward
you on those very waves. Though His presence may not be immediately
clear, look with eyes of faith and listen for His voice: “Take
courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Welcome Him in, and trust that
His grace is sufficient for every trial and tribulation God permits
you to endure.
Most miraculous Lord, You speak to me day and night—through the
Scriptures, inspirations, signs, and sacred symbols. Yet too often
I fail to perceive Your presence, especially amid the storms of
life. Open my eyes to recognize You, even when You come in
unexpected ways. Help me to welcome You into the boat of my soul
with faith and joy, so that You may bring order to the chaos I
endure and fill me with Your abiding peace. Jesus, I trust in
You.
Image: Walking on Water, by Ivan Aivazovsky
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