Homily: January 31, 2026 Saturday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time (Trust)

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 “Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke Him and said, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’”

I am a little jealous of Jesus here. How can someone sleep like that?

For a few years my next- room neighbor who was a hospital chaplain at unity point methodist hospital. On nights when he was on call, his pager would go off suddenly, and every time it did, I would wake up too. Even the slightest noise disturbed my sleep. And here is Jesus, in the middle of a violent storm, in a small boat, with waves crashing and water splashing everywhere and He is asleep.

Jesus must be exhausted. He was busy. He carried a great mission. And yet nothing seems to disturb His peace.

The One who taught us “Do not be afraid” is now teaching us how not to be afraid. His calm sleep is not indifference; it is trust, complete trust in the Father.

Life, too, brings storms. Storms of illness, family struggles, financial stress, grief, fear, and uncertainty. 

And in those moments, we sometimes feel exactly like the disciples: “Lord, do You not care?” We panic while God seems silent.

But Jesus is still in the boat.

He has not abandoned us. His presence alone is already a promise of safety—even when it feels like He is asleep.

All the disciples had to do was wake Him. And when they did, He calmed the storm.

The same is true for us. We wake Jesus not by shouting in fear, but by trusting prayer. When we turn to Him, He may not remove every storm immediately, but He will always bring peace, strength, and assurance.

Jesus is in your boat. He will wake. He will speak. And He will calm the storm, in His time, in His way.

Let us ask for the grace to trust Him more deeply and rest in His peace.

Amen.


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