Meditation on the Gospel for the Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
At that time, when Jesus entered into the boat, His disciples followed Him: and behold a great tempest arose in the sea, so that the boat was covered with waves, but He was asleep. And His disciples came to Him and awaked Him, saying: Lord, save us, we perish. And Jesus saith to them: Why are you fearful, O ye a little faith? Then rising up, He commanded the winds and the sea, and there came a great calm. But the men wondered, saying: What manner of man is this, for the winds and the sea obey Him? (St. Matthew, viii, 23-27)
Lord, your Church often seems like a boat about to sink,
a boat taking in water on every side.
In your field we see more weeds than wheat.
The soiled garments and face of your Church throw us into confusion.
Yet it is we ourselves who have soiled them!
It is we who betray you time and time again,
after all our lofty words and grand gestures.
Have mercy on your Church;
within her too, Adam continues to fall.
When we fall, we drag you down to earth, and Satan laughs,
for he hopes that you will not be able to rise from that fall;
he hopes that being dragged down in the fall of your Church,
you will remain prostrate and overpowered.
But you will rise again.
You stood up, you arose
and you can also raise us up.
Save and sanctify your Church.
Save and sanctify us all.
Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, 2005 (Source)
At that time, when Jesus entered into the boat, His disciples followed Him: and behold a great tempest arose in the sea, so that the boat was covered with waves, but He was asleep. And His disciples came to Him and awaked Him, saying: Lord, save us, we perish. And Jesus saith to them: Why are you fearful, O ye a little faith? Then rising up, He commanded the winds and the sea, and there came a great calm. But the men wondered, saying: What manner of man is this, for the winds and the sea obey Him? (St. Matthew, viii, 23-27)