He got into a boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by waves; but he was asleep. 25 They came and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” 26 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. 27 The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and the sea obey?”
The Sea of Galilee, also known as Lake Tiberias or Lake Gennesaret, is indeed a freshwater lake that lies approximately 209 meters (about 686 feet) below sea level, making it the lowest freshwater lake on Earth. The surrounding topography, which includes hills and mountains, particularly the Golan Heights to the east and the Galilean hills to the west, plays a significant role in the weather patterns of the region.
The contrast in temperature between the cooler air from the surrounding highlands and the warmer air over the lake’s surface can create sudden shifts in wind patterns. These winds can be funneled through the valleys and gorges around the lake, which often results in unpredictable and sometimes violent storms. These sudden storms are well-known and were a common danger for those traveling across the lake
The early Church understood verse 23 in this way: the boat serves as a symbol of the Church, and entering it with Jesus represents both trust and the commitment of discipleship. This act prefigures the trials and hardships the disciples will face as they follow Him. The sea often represents chaos and evil. The storm-tossed boat reflects the Church navigating the difficulties of the world, but remaining secure because of Christ’s abiding presence.
Jesus and His disciples were crossing the lake to the region of the Gadarenes (Mt. 8:28) when a sudden storm arose. While Jesus slept, the disciples, overcome with fear, panicked. In their distress, they woke Him, and Jesus, addressing their fear, rebuked them for their lack of faith. He then demonstrated His divine authority by commanding the wind and sea to be still, and immediately, calm returned. The disciples’ faith was not yet strong enough to trust that Jesus would protect them from harm. Filled with awe, they began to realize that Jesus possessed divine authority, a power traditionally understood in Jewish belief as belonging only to God, especially over the forces of nature.
Lord Jesus, in the storms of our lives, help us trust in your divine power and presence. Calm our fears and strengthen our faith, knowing that with you, we are always safe. Amen.
References
- McSorley, Joseph. An Outline History of the Church by Centuries (From St. Peter to Pius XII). 2nd ed., B. Herder Book Co., 1944.
- Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
- Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
- Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
- Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Prentice Hall, 1990.
- Charpentier, Etienne. How to Read the Old Testament. Translated by John Bowden, 1981.
- Komonchak, Joseph, et al., editors. The New Dictionary of Theology.
- McKenzie, John. Dictionary of the Bible. Collier Books, 1965.
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