Elia-Sleeva,8th S,Oct.25,09
(Mt.8:23-34)
The reading form today’s Gospel presents before us two miracles which assert the power and authority of Jesus over the world of nature as well as those of Spirits. In unmistakable terms, these miracles prove to the disciples and to the people listening to Him that he is not just a great teacher, or a prophet but the Son of God.
The calming of the storm, undoubtedly, is a powerful assertion of the dominion of Jesus over the forces of nature. The disciples, in spite of their awareness of the divine power of Jesus through the various miracles they witnessed in their association with Jesus, were not fully conscious of the reach and depth of the authority of Jesus. Hence, when they thought that lives were in danger they cried out to the Lord for His intervention. Their cry “ Save us, Lord” provoked Jesus to calm the stormy turbulence of the sea .We can just imagine the joy and the surprise that the disciples felt when the sea was made calm. Their surprise was shown in the words they expressed: “ The winds and the sea obey him”
The second miracle happens in the territory of Gadara which is part of the gentile city of Decapolis. The two men who were afflicted by the power of Satan asked Jesus to save them from the possession. At His word, the devils left the men and escaped into the herd of swine which rushed into the sea and perished in it. The men became free of the possession and were free to resume their normal lives.
These two miracles affirm the authority of Jesus as well as His willingness to come to the aid of people who are suffering. The mercy and compassion of Jesus are also reflected in these miracles.
These two miracles were again a call to his listeners to accept Him as the Son of God and as the Savior of their lives. They were invited to forego their former lives and surrender themselves to Jesus to experience the freedom of the children of God.
What do they tell us? It is a call to each one of us not to feel diffident in life in the face of difficulties and hardships and submit ourselves to Him. His protection will always be there for us. When our hearts become turbulent because of fear, sickness, failures, tragedies, Jesus will be there to drive out those forces and calm the turbulent waters of our hearts. How consoling it is to know that the Lord will come to our help when our lives are in danger. He is the Light who will lead us when the night is dark and lonely and our steps ahead are
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