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As Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him. Suddenly a
violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was being
swamped by waves; but he was asleep. They came and woke him,
saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” He said to them, “Why
are you terrified, O you of little faith?” Then he got up, rebuked
the winds and the sea, and there was great calm. Matthew
8:23–26
While we should understand Jesus’ teachings and actions in a
literal sense, the Early Church Fathers also point to a deeper,
symbolic meaning—what is known as the Spiritual Sense of Scripture.
As the inspired Word of God, the Gospels contain limitless depth
and wisdom. The message found in Jesus’ words and actions can be
applied to any part of our lives and answer any questions we
struggle with.
One such question is how we deal with the storms of life. Some
storms come upon us externally, through illness, persecution, or
unforeseen trials. When a storm sets in, we often react with fear
and anxiety. When the storm is of our own making, such as from sin,
the trial is often more severe. Though fear and anxiety are often
the ill effects of life’s storms, another more deadly fruit can
also arise: the anger that leads to vengeance.
In his preaching on this passage, Saint Augustine offers such an
insight: “You have heard an insult—it is the wind; you feel
anger—it is the wave. When the wind blows and the waves rise, the
ship is in danger; so too, when insults stir your heart, your soul
is tossed about and put at risk” (Sermon 63 on the New
Testament, 2).
Because we live and interact with sinful people every day, we will
inevitably experience the “wind” of an insult which can lead to the
“wave” of angry feelings. When that happens, the question is: What
am I going to do with that angry feeling? Augustine warns that
insults, which stir up anger, pose a real spiritual danger. He
continues: “If, upon hearing an insult, you desire vengeance, the
storm swells within you. And behold, if you take vengeance, you may
think you have triumphed—but in rejoicing over another’s harm, you
have suffered shipwreck yourself.”
At some point, we have all allowed a storm to swell within us by
seeking vengeance, which inevitably leads to our downfall. When
anger gives way to irrational arguments, judgment, condemnation, or
passive aggression—such as the “silent treatment”—our “boat” begins
to sink.
Just as the wind and waves battered the Apostles, leading them to
fear, so too does anger batter us, driving us toward vengeance and
making things worse. In such moments, there is only one remedy: to
cry out with the Apostles, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
What a perfect prayer in the midst of a trial that is turning into
a storm! Had the Apostles ignored the presence of the Son of
God—who was with them, asleep, awaiting their call—the storm would
have continued, and they might have been shipwrecked. But they
cried out, seeing that things were getting out of control.
When Jesus woke up, He first gently rebuked them, saying, “Why are
you terrified, O you of little faith?” Applying this to our analogy
of anger and vengeance, we can hear our Lord asking, “Why did you
allow anger to take hold of you and swell into a storm?” Though
Jesus, in His mercy, can calm the storm caused by our sin, a deep
and abiding faith helps us to forgive the initial insult before it
takes root, preventing it from growing into anger and
vengeance.
Reflect today on any initial “wind” that tempts you toward anger.
Choose to forgive and offer mercy in return. If a storm is already
brewing in your heart, cry out to Jesus as the Apostles did. Though
at times it might seem as if our Lord is asleep, He is always with
you. Reject fear and anger the moment they begin to stir; but if
they do arise, call upon Him in faith: “Lord, save me! I am
perishing!” He will calm the storm.
My sleeping Lord, I know that You are always with me, calling me
to faith and obedience to Your Word. Strengthen me in moments of
temptation, that I may remain faithful and choose mercy over
vengeance. When storms arise from my sin, forgive me, Lord, and
calm the tempest within, healing the wounds caused by my lack of
faith. Jesus, I trust in You.
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