July 1, 2013. Homily, Tuesday, June 2, 2013

Matthew 8:23-27.

As Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him. Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by waves; but he was asleep. They came and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" 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. The men were amazed and said, "What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and the sea obey!"
The Gospel of the Lord.

1 Cor. 15:12, 51-55. Some did not believe in the resurrection. Paul taught that the resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of all His teaching. Without His resurrection, His words had no effect. With the resurrection, Jesus had conquered death. Then, He and we may say: Jesus has conquered death. "Where, O Death, is your victory. Where, O Death, is your sting?" Here, in this Gospel, with a violent storm at sea, the disciples of Jesus were "terrified". Of what were they terrified? Of death. But we believe today in the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
We believe in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. By His resurrection, Jesus conquered Death. By His Resurrection, Jesus conquered fear of Death. His disciples caught in the violent storm were "terrified" of Death. The "great calm" of Jesus reassured His disciples on the Sea of Galilee. His great calm reassures us. We may say, with Paul, "Jesus has conquered Death. O Death, where is your victory? O Death, where is your sting?"