Homily: JUne 28, 2022, Memorial of Saint Irenaeus, Bishop and Martyr.

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 He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?”

There was a violent storm and the boat was going to sink. Naturally, anyone would be terrified.

Why did Jesus continue to sleep when they were all in danger? Was it unreasonable of them to wake Him? Why did Jesus rebuke them?

Well, Jesus rebuked them not because they interrupted his sleep but because of their lack of faith.

They were calling, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”

They were so sure they would die. They called out in fear. They have seen so many miracles from Jesus, yet they did not have any confidence having Him in the boat with them.

Should they not wake Him at all then?

I have a very good friend from Sri Lanka. During our seminary days together, I remember he struggled a lot with his studies, especially in the first year. 

He was trying so hard but was feeling helpless and hopeless. One day, his spiritual director told him, “Jesus is sleeping in your boat, you have to call out to Him. He will wake up in time to help you.”

My friend trusted and did as directed. By the end of our studies, he became one of the top students in our batch. Now he is a professor at the seminary.

Yes, call out to Jesus for help, but in faith and confidence, not in fear. Believe in Him, not the storm.

There will be violent storms in our life surely, but Jesus is always in our boats, always present in our life. He is someone whom even the winds and the sea obey, why should we fear?

Let us call out to wake Jesus, “Lord, I am in trouble but I know you are stronger than the winds and greater than the storms in my life. Wake up in time to help me. Jesus, I trust in You! Amen!”

Fr. Nivin Scaria


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