We know that God is a loving Father. Jesus came to show us that. But even loving fathers punish their children when punishment is merited. In today’s first reading from Amos 3 and 4, we read that the punishment for Israel would not be easy.
In the Gospel reading from Matthew 8, Jesus is asleep on a boat. Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea. His disciples wake Jesus up, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” Jesus gets up and, before calming the storm, says to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?”
I’m sure Jesus didn’t mean this as a slam. It was merely a statement of fact. I’m afraid the same can be said of me. I often think of myself as a man of great faith. But then something comes along that sets me back, frightens me and shows me how little faith I actually have. It is a stark and unsettling realization. I do know this much: the more I trust in Christ, the less control my fears have over me.
Father, increase our faith, that we may replace our fears with trust in your Son. Amen.
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