Are We Perishing?

Tuesday, July 1, 2025

Gen 19:15-29; Mt 8:23-27

Today’s Gospel invites us to reflect on the content of our faith. 

The Gospel text presents two contexts. One is the situation of the storm. The other is the little faith of Jesus’ disciples. 

There is nothing to deny the fact that the boat in which Jesus and his disciples were travelling was being swamped by a violent storm. We also cannot discard the fact that the storm was life-threatening and that Jesus’ disciples were scared to death. It is then that they cry out, saying, ‘Save us, Lord, we are perishing.’ 

Jesus, who was tired and asleep, could not accept the fact that his disciples cried out, saying, ‘We are perishing.’ He must have expected that his disciples would recall the instances in which he drove out demons and brought the evil power to control, not to mention his other healing miracles that even precede this section. Jesus must have been so surprised that, forgetting all the miracles and great works he performed, his disciples had already concluded that they were perishing, even with him present with them in the boat.

Hence, when Jesus rebukes his disciples, one can see the clear disappointment in his tone because of their disbelief. It is no exaggeration to say that it must have been easier for Jesus to calm the storm than to call his disciples to faith in him constantly, citing all the miracles he had performed. 

The Gospel text compels us to reflect on the dangerous conclusion of Jesus’ disciples that they were perishing. The fact that such a statement comes from the mouths of those people who personally witnessed Jesus’ power and might adds to our shock. However, at times, our behaviour runs similar to the unjustifiable claim of the disciples that they were perishing. 

More often than not, it is sometimes the regular churchgoers who crumble when their faith is put under pressure. The example of the disciples in today’s Gospel proves that it is possible for the believers to fall apart when our faith gets tested by the rough realities of life. 

We are also called to believe that, with God with us, there is only life, abundance, flourishing, and fulfillment. Only our disbelief leads to unwanted negative experiences.

Let us pray that our faith may shine forth brightly when it gets tested by life’s circumstances.

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar