But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you

 

 Then one from the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."  But He said to him, "Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?"  And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses."  

 

Then He spoke a parable to them, saying:  "The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.  And he thought within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?'  So he said, 'I will do this:  I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods.  And I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry."'  But God said to him, 'Fool!  This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?'  So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

Then He said to His disciples, "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on.  Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.  Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them.  Of how much more value are you than the birds?  And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?  If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?  Consider the lilies, how they grow:  they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?  And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind.  For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things.  But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you."

 

- Luke 12:13-31 

 

Yesterday we read that as Jesus was speaking to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to assail Him vehemently, and to cross-examine Him about many things, lying in wait for Him, and seeking to catch Him in something He might say, that they might accuse Him.  In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.  For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known.  Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.  And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.  But I will show you whom you should fear:  Fear Him who, after He has  killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!  Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins?  And not one of them is forgotten before God.  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.   Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God.  But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.  And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.  Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say.  For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say." 

 Then one from the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."  But He said to him, "Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?"  And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses."  My study Bible comments that it was a custom for respected rabbis to arbitrate personal disputes.  But a dispute over an inheritance can be detrimental to salvation.  This greed is pure idolatry, my study Bible comments (Colossians 3:5) and unfitting for those who know God.  Notice how incompatible this question is with what Christ has just finished saying, in yesterday's reading, above. 

 

 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying:  "The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.  And he thought within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?'  So he said, 'I will do this:  I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods.  And I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry."'  But God said to him, 'Fool!  This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?'  So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."  My study Bible says that the question, "Whose will those things be which you hae provided?" is the key to understanding the saving up of material goods.  St. John Chrysostom writes that the only barns we need we already have:  "the stomachs of the poor."  St. Basil the Great taught that the bread in our cupboard belongs to the hungry man; the coat hanging unused belongs to the one who needs it; the shoes rotting in our closet belong to the one who has no shoes; and the money we hoard belongs to the poor.  St. Ambrose teaches, "The things which we cannot take with us are not ours.  Only virtue will be our companion when we die."  My study Bible says that even when Joseph stored up grain in Egypt (Genesis 41) it was for the benefit of the whole nation.  These teachings apply to parishes as well as to each person. 

Then He said to His disciples, "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on.  Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.  Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them.  Of how much more value are you than the birds?  And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?  If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?  Consider the lilies, how they grow:  they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?  And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind.  For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things.  But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you."  Here my study Bible comments that Christ is warning against anxiety, not against thoughtful planning.  Our physical well-being is directly dependent upon God, it says, and only indirectly on food and clothing.  Anxiety over earthly things can demonstrate a lack of faith in God's care.  The nations of the world is a reference to the Gentiles, who served pagan idols, and remained consumed by dependence on earthly things.  My study Bible says that those who follow God can be freed from this dependence.   The kingdom of God is the central theme of Christ's teaching.  As we are freed from excess anxiety about earthly things, Christ guides us to look to how we please God (seek the kingdom of God) and be secure in the faith that God will provide our needed earthly blessings. 

What does it mean to seek the kingdom of God?  Christ has given us prescriptions, so to speak, in all of His teachings, about how to do that.  We are to pray, we are to seek God's righteousness.  We are to love God with all our hearts and minds and soul and strength -- and to love neighbor as oneself, extended that love through practice.  To dispute over an inheritance does not seem to indicate that one is seeking a righteous judgment but rather contesting something legitimately given out of greed and covetousness.  Let us think for a moment about what such disputes entail, the expense and effort and time, not to mention the family dynamics of such a circumstance.  This indicates that one has not sought God's will in such a dispute but rather values material wealth first over the kingdom of God.  We make such choices all the time; we are presented with such choices all the time -- and in today's passage, Jesus is clearly coming down firmly on the answer for us all.  We're to seek first the kingdom of God, in all things, and at all times.  This may seem difficult, if not impossible to do in a world obsessed with material goods and consumption.  It's exacerbated through modern conditions of comparison to others and being offered all kinds of goods through images, advertising, social media.  Social media often offers to us what we supposedly "should" be seeking in life, because everyone else does it, because all our friends do, or even family members.  But this is not where the Christian heart must be focusing.  These are all great distractions to seek something else and take our mind and our focus off of God, and Christ's teaching for us and for our lives.  There really is no compromise on this; Jesus teaches that we cannot serve both God and mammon.  We have to make a choice.  Note that Jesus does not say that we must live without blessings of a material kind -- what He does say is that we need to seek the kingdom of God.  He tells us that "your Father knows that you need these things.  But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you."    Seeking the kingdom of God, therefore, applies to all times and circumstances.  We seek God's will through prayerful life, putting all things -- our troubles, concerns, worries, needs, and choices -- before God and seeking the discernment to find God's way.  Sometimes I have found that an important practice in life is seeking to give control up to God, to accept what comes with gratitude.  Regardless of circumstances, I find that letting go to God helps me with clarity and also with charity; sometimes those in need are brought to me with what God thinks I can offer, even if that's just a kind word or smile.  So often, we forget what blessings we really have to share; a focus on the purely material blinds us to the other things people need and desire for their hearts as well.  Let us seek that Kingdom and God's blessings, and we will find that we have so much more than we know.

Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?

Rembrandt van Rijn. Christ In The Storm On The Sea Of Galilee. 1633, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston, MA

 And when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side.  Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, "Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go."  And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."  Then another of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father."  But Jesus said to him, "Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead."

Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him.  And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves.  But He was asleep.  Then his disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, "Lord, save us!  We are perishing!"  But He said to them, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?"  Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.  So the men marveled, saying, "Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?"

- Matthew 8:18-27

In yesterday's reading, we that when Jesus had come down from the mountain (where He gave the Sermon on the Mount) great multitudes followed Him.  And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean."  Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed."  Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.  And Jesus said to him, "See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."  Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented."  And Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him."  The centurion answered and said, "Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof.  But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.  For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me.  And I say to this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."  When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to those who followed, "Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!  And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.  But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness.  There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."  Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you."  And his servant was healed that same hour.  Now when Jesus had come into Peter's house, He saw his wife's mother lying sick with fever.  So He touched her hand, and the fever left her.  And she arose and served them.  When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed.  And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:  "He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses."

 And when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side.  Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, "Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go."  And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."  My study bible says that the term Son of Man refers to the Messiah (Daniel 7:13), and it expresses both Christ's humanity and divinity.  Here Christ uses it to reflect His human condition.  By contrast, in 25:31-33, it describes His divine authority.

Then another of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father."  But Jesus said to him, "Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead."  My study bible comments that Jesus does not negate the command to honor parents, but rather teaches us to put the things of the Kingdom as our highest priority.  To ignore this priority is to be spiritually dead.

Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him.  And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves.  But He was asleep.  Then his disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, "Lord, save us!  We are perishing!"  But He said to them, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?"  Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.  So the men marveled, saying, "Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?"   Christ's mastery over creation fits with His capacity for healing, and is another sign that He is the Messiah, and also divine.  My study bible says that commands to the sea and waves can only be issued by God (Job 38:8-11; Psalms 66:5-6, 107:29).  Jesus also shows His humanity in that He needed rest and so was asleep.   So this passage in today's reading is a profound expression of both His humanity and His divinity.  My study bible says that in His Incarnation, He assumed all the natural actions of the flesh -- which includes sleep.  This image of Jesus and His disciples in a boat is a traditional illustration of the Church.  My study bible comments that God both permits storms and delivers us through them, so that we can more clearly see God's protection.  Jesus' rebuke of the storm also expresses His help and aid to calm the internal storms within our souls.

In our reading for Thursday, Jesus taught (as part of His final teachings in the Sermon on the Mount), ""Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:  and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock."  In that reading, Jesus assured us that, indeed, rain will descend, and floods come, and winds blow and beat on the houses of our lives.  These are potentially literally true events, but clearly Jesus' words are metaphorical.  We don't exactly know what form the winds, rain, and floods will take.  In Thursday's reading, He doesn't teach that as disciples we will be spared such events; rather, as good disciples, we will be on solid ground to withstand them intact.  In today's reading, we are given an illustration that being a disciple does not spare us from such challenges.  In fact, the disciples -- many of whom are seasoned fishermen who've worked this sea all their lives -- are led across the Sea of Galilee and into this storm by Jesus.  It's important, too, that Jesus has just been approached by others who wish to follow Him, and that this resulted, first, in a warning that He Himself has "nowhere to lay His head," even though foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests.   Moreover, another wishes a kind of reprieve first, seeking to go bury his father.  But even that Jesus does not grant, commanding instead to "Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead."  While it's entirely possible that this case of one who seeks to bury his father is entirely individual (in the sense of it being a distraction from discipleship or faith), we are nevertheless given to understand that nothing comes before discipleship, and that -- at least in this case -- Christ issues a clear command not to do so but to follow Him instead.   That tells us about sacrifice even of things that are nominally "good" in social context will be asked of us in discipleship.  This potential disciple must risk looking "bad" at least in the eyes of his family and possibly the society in general.  Then Christ directs the disciples to cross the Sea of Galilee, where they promptly happen upon a storm that seems to them to threaten their lives altogether.  My study bible comments that Christ both leads us into storms and through them.  But I think our real insight has to be that discipleship will demand enormous things of us.  It will ask us to stretch, and to come to terms with whatever is inside of us.  It will challenge us.  Most of all, we will certainly come up against challenges to our faith, which are meant to test and expand that faith through confrontation with our own assumptions, habits, and familiarity.  Even the fishermen in the boat are shaken with fear in this scene -- while Jesus sleeps.  He asks of them not only to follow into places which test their capacity to go outside their norms, but to learn to have complete confidence in Him.  Faith, we recall, means "trust" at its root in the Greek.  And that is precisely what He asks them for.  He asks us for our trust in Him.  We will be challenged, the Gospels tell us, every step of the way.  We'll be challenged regarding our assumptions of what is good and what takes priority even over what we think is good.  We will be challenged on what is "safe" in many senses of the word.  Above all, we will be taken on a journey meant to challenge our own barriers and expand our faith.  This seems to be assured, if nothing else, through the Gospels.  How is our discipleship -- the solid ground upon which Christ has asked us to build our house -- at once challenging and also built upon a rock?  In which direction do we go when Christ calls us forward to new and even risky things?  Where are we going in the life of faith?  How are we called upon to move forward, and "let the dead bury their own dead?"  These are all important questions which will shake up our assumptions regarding just what "solid ground" really is.  Let us remember the question He asks the disciples:  "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?"   

You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times

 Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven.  He answered and said to them, "When it is evening you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red'; and in the morning, 'It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.'  Hypocrites!  You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.  A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah."  And He left them and departed.

Now when His disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.  Then Jesus said to them, "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees."  And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "It is because we have taken no bread."  But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, "O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread?  Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up?  Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up?  How is is you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?  -- but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees."  Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

- Matthew 16:1-12

 Jesus departed from there, skirted the Sea of Galilee, and went up on the mountain and sat down there.  Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus' feet, and He healed them.  So the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.  Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, "I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat.  And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way."  Then His disciples said to Him, "Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness to fill such a great multitude?"  Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?"  And they said, "Seven, and a few little fish."  So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.  And He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude.  So they all ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left.  Now those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.  And He sent away the multitude, got into the boat, and came to the region of Magdala.

 Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven.  That both Pharisees and Sadducees are here together, demanding a sign from heaven, is important.  It shows the growing influence of Christ's ministry.  The fact that members of both groups are here tells us notice of Him is important enough that they have come to see and to confront.  A sign from heaven would be a spectacular display of power -- supposedly requested so that He prove He's the Messiah, a holy one sent by God.  The time of the Messiah among the Jews was expected to be accompanied by signs, prophesied in Scripture.  But clearly there are an abundance of these signs all around.  In yesterday's reading, we were told of the multitudes marveling, when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.  These are clear signs named by the prophets, so this question is one made in hypocrisy, demanding proofs so they recognize authority in Him.  It's not the first time we've heard this demand.   In chapter 12, Jesus was asked by some Pharisees and scribes, in response to His criticism, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from You."  (See By your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.)  Their deliberate dullness of perception serves as example of hardened hearts.

He answered and said to them, "When it is evening you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red'; and in the morning, 'It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.'  Hypocrites!  You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.  A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah."  And He left them and departed.  How is it they can discern the weather, but they can't "see" what is happening in His ministry, or recognize the works He's already done as signs?   In chapter 12, when He was previously requested to show a sign, He also referred to an evil and adulterous generation that asked for a sign.  Evil is ill-willed, adulterous refers to the relationship to the God of Israel.  They have no loyalty, no fidelity to God.  And again, this is the same response He gave in chapter 12, to refer to the sign of the prophet Jonah.   He has not performed any great work without the presence of faith first, and He won't do it now.  Only His death and Resurrection will be a sign for the whole world.  To test God isn't a motive worthy of His response; their faith would lack anyway.  Love isn't compelled, it's voluntary.

Now when His disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.  Then Jesus said to them, "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees."  And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "It is because we have taken no bread."  But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, "O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread?  Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up?  Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up?  How is is you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?  -- but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees."  Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.  My study bible tells us that the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees is their doctrine and hypocrisy.  This demand for a sign from heaven is just a way of drawing a line in the sand, setting themselves up as judges of the ways that God "must" be at work in the world.  It doesn't come from the faith in God that allows perception of the heart in the first place.  They're too enamored of their own authority in the first place.  That kind of leaven, testing for a sign, is a way of hardening the heart rather than having it open to spiritual illumination, to God who is always surprising and always revealing things we don't already know or understand.  Leaven has been used by Christ as a positive metaphor in the parable of the leaven "hid in three measures of meal" (see this reading).  But generally speaking is used throughout Scripture as a negative, something mixed into and tainting what would otherwise be good, or pure.  In terms of faith, we have to ask why the disciples don't understand Him.  The answer is that at this point, they're painfully slow as they have little faith, as Jesus tells them.  It teaches us about the importance of the Spirit to our own comprehension and capability for faith.  They won't fully grasp His teachings until Pentecost, the time when the Holy Spirit was given.

Sometimes it seems like our own authority interferes with the authority of God.  It's hard -- maybe impossible on some level -- for human beings to grasp the concept or reality of a being much greater than ourselves.  Try understanding a concept that requires knowledge greater than one already possesses.  It requires a constant change of assumptions, as new information comes to light.  In science, this happens all the time.  Physics, for example, particularly in advanced fields of research like theoretical nuclear physics, must change all the time, in terms of scientific beliefs.  A new particle is discovered, or not, and it changes all of the assumptions upon which the science and its theories have already been based.  In fact, there was recently the "discovery" of what was called the "God-particle."  What was so revolutionary about this news?  It actually confirmed theories already formed, held, and taught.  That was news.  In that light, it's strange that some people claim science precludes the possibility of the existence of God or even signs by Christ; it does no such thing, not even in theory.  Being on a journey with God is something akin to that process of discovery, where what is so much greater than we are leads us into new things, new ways of thinking, a bigger picture than we already have.  Just as the New Testament is revealed through Christ, magnifying the picture already given in the Old, but defying expectations at the same time, so is the individual journey of faith.  Our expectations just can't measure up to the immeasurable God.  So it is with these men who demand a sign.  All they're really asking for is a confirmation of their own authority, the right to judge God, rather than accepting the unfolding and greater revelation of God present in Christ's ministry.  So what does it mean that we harden our hearts?  It means that we refuse to engage with that part of ourselves that is capable of discernment, and that we lack the humility for any form of repentance or "change of mind" as the word literally means in Greek (metanoia).   There's a reason why Jesus gives us the example of the faith of a child.  Humility means we're willing to learn and to change, to cast off the things we might call "sacred," so to speak, in order to find deeper meaning, and broader understanding.  And that's the journey of prayer, the journey with Christ.  Oftentimes our own discoveries are of things we hold onto that we need to let go, opening up a space of "unknown" in order to be led by God.  If you think about it, spiritual practices that ask for sacrifice, like fasting, or giving alms by donating what we have -- such as time, money, possessions, or skills, for example -- "open up" and make room for places to be filled by God.  These men can't give up their own authority and find a greater one; their own places are too precious for them.  Let us remember what it is to have a hardened heart, and the one thing needed to really invest in and open up to in our faith.  Everything else comes second.  Sometimes the signs may be all around us, but we need to wake up to our own ability to discern them.

Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times

Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven. He answered and said to them, "When it is evening you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red'; and in the morning, 'It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.' Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah." And He left them and departed.

Now when His disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. Then Jesus said to them, "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees." And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "It is because we have taken no bread." But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, "O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread? Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up? How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread? -- but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

- Matthew 16:1-12

In yesterday's reading, Jesus had gone around the shore of the Sea of Galilee and went to a mountaintop. But the multitudes followed Him, bringing their sick, lame, handicapped and hurt of every kind. In His compassion, He healed them all. In this region of mixed population, the God of Israel was glorified by them all. He told His disciples, "I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way." Then His disciples said to Him, "Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness to fill such a great multitude?" Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?" And they said, "Seven, and a few little fish." He told them all to sit down. He took the loaves and fish, gave thanks, and had His disciples distribute them until all were fed, about four thousand men and more women and children. And He sent away the multitude, got into the boat, and came to the region of Magdala.

Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven. The Pharisees and Sadducees have no doubt heard all the reports of Jesus' power and ministry, His healings and other wonders. But they want a kind of sign on demand, something that would "prove" to them that He is the Messiah, a spectacular sign from heaven. My study bible says, "All acknowledge that the time of the Messiah will be a time for signs. But they do not understand the signs already performed, for their hearts are hardened in disbelief."

He answered and said to them, "When it is evening you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red'; and in the morning, 'It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.'" Hidden in the Greek is a kind of play on words here. The word translated as "red" means more literally "fiery." But, even though it has a different root and hence is spelled differently, in sound it is similar to the word for test. There's a further play on words as the word for heaven and sky is the same.

"Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah." And He left them and departed. They know the signs of the "face of heaven" (the sky) but not the signs of the times they so avidly seek by testing Him. His miracles, healings, feedings, all are open in His ministry. Yet they still demand a sign, but they fail to see, to discern what is in front of them. It's a sign to us about our own discernment, what we need for our faith. In modern Greek, the same word for the "threatening" sky is also synonymous with a hardened heart. The sign of Jonah, the prophet who was also from the region near Nazareth, and who preached to repentant Gentiles, is the three days between Jesus' death and Resurrection. My study bible notes, "They can predict the rain and the storms, but they cannot understand the Law, which points to Christ, even though they are supposed to be experts in it." It adds, "Just as Jonah was delivered safely from the belly of the great fish, Jesus will rise from the grave."

Now when His disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. Then Jesus said to them, "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees." Jesus has preached on "leaven" in a parable, as something that gives us the action of the Kingdom. But most often, leaven is used negatively in Scripture, and here the "leaven of the Pharisees" is precisely their hard-hearted inability to use discernment. As Jesus has pointed out in the verses above, they are skilled in worldly discernment, but not spiritual discernment - even though they are experts in the Law. Later in Matthew's Gospel, Jesus will call them "blind guides" who would "strain out a gnat but swallow a camel." It is in this type of hard-hearted myopia, fixated in their own image of themselves, that they miss the true signs of the times.

And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "It is because we have taken no bread." But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, "O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread? Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up? How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread? -- but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees. It seems that even the disciples are also slow to understand the "signs" Jesus gives them! But it is as disciples that they are willing to grow and learn; they are with Him in order to do so. This gives us our greatest hint about faith. We are all asked to grow, to learn, to sit at His feet. We are not all expected to be experts, but it is rather faith -- endlessly and repeatedly, the capacity to open our hearts in relationship -- that drives this ship, that creates His family, those who will follow His way. The disciples fail to discern His message at first, but even in rebuke and remonstrance (and all, I think with irony and humor and love in His exasperation!), Christ teaches. Despite the two great miracles of feeding in the wilderness in which they have participated, they still fail to understand His analogy of leaven. But, through their faith, in relationship and trust, He opens their eyes. I love the humor in the Gospel, their failure to understand that He's not angry because they forgot to bring bread this time, because the thing it teaches me is that we all belong to this school of learning; we are all capable of this faith -- except where a heart is hardened to it, predetermined in some sense to avoid it, block it. Jesus calls the disciples' faith "little" here; but a little faith is enough to open a door to understanding.

So, here we have the experts in the Law, and the collection of fishermen. The warnings of the sky, the "face of heaven," are things that all of them know and understand. (There is a traditional English adage that tells us the same thing: “Red sky at night, sailor’s delight. Red sky in morning, sailor’s warning.” For more on the science behind Jesus' words, see here.) But it is the fishermen, the sailors who've navigated this ministry all along the shores and the Sea of Galilee, those of "little faith," who take the journey with Christ, who are with Him in order to learn and to receive what He offers. So, let's ask ourselves what makes for a hardened heart. I think this can come in many forms, once we make up our minds we might have nothing more to learn, we have all the answers. My study bible has a note to a verse from Proverbs 30:12: "There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, yet is not washed from its filthiness." We have to think about what it is to be pure in our own eyes, and to fail to see ourselves as people who have more to learn, of whom growth is asked, and fruitfulness. A worldly understanding alone is not enough; faith will take us into a different realm, of the true heaven. To sit at Christ's feet is simply to be taught, and paradoxically to be "good enough" even with a little faith. With a little faith, we can travel far on this Way, and have our eyes opened. Our own hard-heartedness will keep us away, and Jesus indicates in today's reading that we are to beware the leaven of those who think like this, who demand proofs and signs they really don't want to see, a way of thinking in which we don't want to engage. We are all called to discernment. Where does a little faith take you today?

O you of little faith, why did you doubt?

Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid."

And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!" And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God."

When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret. And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent out into all that surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick, and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well.

- Matthew 14:22-36

In yesterday's reading, Jesus had withdrawn into a deserted place after hearing about John's death at the hands of Herod Antipas. He has also understood that Herod fears that Jesus is John returned, because Herod has now heard the reports of Jesus' ministry and the power expressed through Him. Despite His withdrawal, the multitudes followed Him on foot from the cities. Moved with compassion, He healed their sick. When evening came, the disciples wanted to send the people away, so that they could get food. But Jesus said to them, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat." And they said to Him, "We have here only five loaves and two fish." Jesus said, "Bring them here to Me." Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave them to the multitudes. So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Jesus carries out His earlier plans, for withdrawal and prayer. His ministry seemingly has entered a new phase with the news that Herod has beheaded John and also fears Jesus, and it is time for prayer with the Father. He sends His disciples back to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, and He remains in the deserted place, in which He has fed five thousand men, and yet more women and children. At all crucial points in His ministry, Jesus will turn to prayer with the Father. Throughout His ministry, it is obedience and love of the Father that will characterize His direction and plans.

But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. My study bible points out that this scene gives us an understanding of Christ's power, that He has dominion over nature. The fourth watch is about three o'clock in the morning.

And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid." My study bible says, "In saying to the disciples, be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid, He is also assuring us He will be with His people in the midst of the storms of life." So, we gather that a traditional way to view this scene is to understand what it is to be storm-tossed in our hearts, and in turmoil, and afraid. Sometimes the thing we need the most may be what we are most afraid of. I don't find this at all unusual; Christ will come to us in ways we don't expect, perhaps in forms that we need to "turn around" to really receive and know and understand. Repentance - change of mind - often accompanies recovery from trauma of any kind. It is another form of healing; hence, His words: "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid."

And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!" And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" While this story is found in other Gospels, it is here in Matthew that we are given another glimpse of the exuberant and emotional character of Peter, who has been renamed "Rock" by Jesus. He makes a request, and Christ tells him, "Come." My study bible notes: "Come is the call of Christ in the midst of turmoil." "O you of little faith" tells us something about faith itself: that it can reach to depths in us, can always be increased, like a well or pool of grace. And this is where our powerful relationship with Christ comes in, through the turmoils we face in life, and our reliance on our life with Him and in Him. It takes courage to have great faith, but our experience is rewarded with a peace that surpasses understanding.

And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God." These apostles, who, as we know, number among themselves experienced fishermen (including Peter), are in awe at the taming of the sea, the power of Christ over wind and waves and water. Christ here is clearly the Logos of John's Gospel, the One who puts order into all things, who can even subdue nature.

When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret. And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent out into all that surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick, and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well. Our reading today is framed by stories of healing, making it clear that in all ways, Christ heals, His ministry is for healing. Addressing Peter's fears - and our own - in the midst of turmoil is healing. Addressing our "little faith" is also healing. Touching Christ's hem reminds us of the healing of the woman with the years-long blood flow, echoing the power of healing even when we are desperate and hopeless. We remember that He also said to her, "Be of good cheer." His words to her also emphasized the power of her faith in healing.

So, when we are in the midst of turmoil, we can think of Christ as shelter and refuge. Oftentimes I find that it is an immature faith that can't accept the ways in which Christ answers our prayers. This isn't an easy task, by any means. Simon is renamed Peter, "Rock" (Petros in the Greek), for a reason. It often takes great courage to face the real answers to prayers, the things that expose our underlying weaknesses and seek to address them, always giving us something to grow into, the image that Christ has of us and what we can be. One thing we can be sure of: if the world seemingly fails to understand the value that is in you, Christ will not. In His call to "Come" - even if we, like Peter, may be testing ourselves in some sense - is always an answer that calls us to deeper faith, deeper recognition of what we can be in God's plan, how He finds great value in us. In that sense, then, the "little faith" means that we fail to grasp our own significance in His sight, the things He may have in mind for us. I wrote earlier, above, that healing from any trauma may involve repentance, a "change of mind." In Christ's vision of us, when we are on those stormy seas, lies a promise in the change of mind. He understand who we can be, and sometimes through our own fears and assumptions, we resist the very thing we need to do, the change we need to make to be healed. What repentance do you need to make for His healing today? How has your faith been tested? How does He call you grow and deepen that relationship you have in Him?

O you of little faith

Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing him asked that he would show them a sign from heaven. He answered and said to them, "When it is evening you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red'; and in the morning, 'It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.' Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah." And he left them and departed.

Now when his disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. Then Jesus said to them, "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees." And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "It is because we have taken no bread." But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, "O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread? Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up? How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?-- but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

- Matthew 6:1-12

In the past couple of readings, Jesus has been traveling, preaching, teaching and healing among the Gentiles. First, he met a Canaanite woman who begged him to heal her daughter of demonic possession; she recognized him as Messiah and worshiped him. Next, he teaches on a mountain, and fed four thousand people with a second miracle of feeding in a Eucharistic picture of blessing the bread and its distribution among those who are faithful to him. So, his work and ministry have gone out among the Gentiles as well as the Jews, although he is recognized as the Jewish Messiah, with the title, "Lord, Son of David" expressed by the Canaanite woman. In today's reading, he is confronted by the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing him asked that he would show them a sign from heaven. He answered and said to them, "When it is evening you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red'; and in the morning, 'It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.' Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. My study bible notes here: "A sign from heaven implies some spectacular evidence proving Jesus' messiahship. All acknowledge that the time of the Messiah will be a time for signs. But they do not understand the signs already performed, for their hearts are hardened in disbelief. They can predict the rain and storms, but they cannot understand the Law, which points to Christ, even though they are supposed to be experts in it." It's interesting to me that Jesus holds these people - among the leadership of the temple - responsible for their own discernment, or lack of it. He chastises them, that they cannot read the "signs of the times." Moreover, he calls them "hypocrites." This is always his most scathing criticism: "hypocrites" in the original Greek meant "actor," and the implication is that they "act" their parts as religious or spiritual leaders, but that inwardly they are not of the substance that God wants, that the Law and the prophets teach.

A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah." And he left them and departed. My study bible notes: "Jesus refuses to prove himself to a wicked and adulterous generation -- who refuse to see anyway -- except by the sign of the prophet Jonah, a veiled prediction of his death and Resurrection. Just as Jonah was delivered safely from the belly of the great fish, Jesus will rise from the grave." To be "adulterous," we remember, is to betray faith, to desert that to which one has sworn loyalty or fidelity. Jesus is saying that their hearts are far from God. As "actors" (or "hypocrites") they play the part of religious leadership, but in effect they have abandoned spiritual responsibility. The implication is that otherwise they would recognize what and who Jesus is by faith - rather than by demanding proofs or signs.

Now when his disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. Then Jesus said to them, "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees." And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "It is because we have taken no bread." But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, "O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread? Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up? How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?-- but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Another note reads: "The leaven of the Pharisees (v. 6) is their doctrine (v. 12) and their hypocrisy (Luke 12:2). The disciples are painfully slow to understand, for they have little faith (v. 8). They do not fully understand Jesus' teaching until Pentecost, when the Spirit is given." It's really quite interesting to understand that the disciples, also, have no idea about that to which Jesus is alluding when he speaks to them of the "leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." One must immediately contrast Jesus' scathing criticism of the religious leadership for their lack of understanding, and the disciples' own lack of understanding here. Indeed, the disciples fail even to recall the recent events of the miracles of feeding five thousand and also four thousand people in the wilderness from but a few loaves and fishes, for which Jesus takes them to task. He is teaching them that they, too, have responsibility for discernment. His words are not meant literally, but metaphorically, as he also speaks and preaches in parables to the crowds. But all will be revealed with the coming of the Spirit. For now, they are still learning by living with him, traveling with him, ministering and being his disciples.

But, what's the real difference between the religious leadership - the Pharisees and Sadducees - and the disciples? It comes down to a question of faith, in my opinion. Jesus tells his disciples, "O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread?" He tells them that they are "of little faith." Whereas the Pharisees and Sadducees show no faith at all (at least as an official body - we know that there were faithful among the temple leadership as well), and seek a sign of proof of messiahship, the disciples are faithful but only to a certain extent. They follow him, they learn from him, they participate in his ministry, but he wishes their faith to deepen, to be stronger than it is. In both cases (of the temple leadership and his disciples), Jesus seeks discernment, wisdom, understanding -- and this discernment and understanding is linked inextricably to faith. Let us understand, then, what faith is. It is a relationship of love and trust. It is something that is alive in us, that grows and has energy and dynamic structure of its own. It is creative and powerful and forms myriad expressions in each of our lives. Faith will make of his disciples great human beings, with extraordinary courage and discipleship, each fulfilling his own duty to this gospel in his or her own way. But for now, they are this small group in a boat that "has come to the other side" (of the Sea of Galilee), and who think they are being reprimanded because they forgot to take bread. How humble and sweet is this picture! Let us not forget it, that the great beginnings of the Church are in this humble and small group, slow to understand, for whom even Jesus shows his signs of impatience! "You of little faith," he calls them. Let us remember that we have a lifetime ourselves to grow in this faith - that faith is not immediate and whole and coming at one fell swoop, but rather that it is a relationship that gives us gifts of discernment, discipleship, wisdom and growth -- and so much more.

Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head

And when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave a command to depart to the other side. Then a certain scribe came and said to him, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." Then another of his disciples said to him, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." But Jesus said to him, Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead."

Now when he got into a boat, his disciples followed him. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But he was asleep. Then his disciples came to him and awoke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" But he said to them, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?" Then he arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. So the men marveled, saying, "Who can this be, that even the winds and sea obey him?"

- Matthew 8:18-27

Today's reading occurs amidst the healing ministry of Jesus as reported in Matthew's gospel. These two scenes in today's reading are reported in between the healing of the centurion's servant and the Gergeseme demoniacs. Today's reading conveys to us a sense of Jesus' identity.

And when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave a command to depart to the other side. Then a certain scribe came and said to him, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." My study bible notes, "Since Son of Man refers to the Messiah (Daniel 7:13), it expresses both his humanity and divinity. Here it refers to Jesus' human condition; in 25:31-33 it describes his divine authority as Judge." Surely, no Jewish listener (particularly a scribe) could fail to understand the term from the Scriptures. It is an apocalyptic reference to one (as my study bible notes) who is both human and divine. Here, Jesus describes his human condition. And, as we have focused in the past two readings (see Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean and I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! ) on themes of holiness and the effects of the power of the Spirit to "lift up the lowly" and to heal the afflicted, so this reading also reflects similar themes. The Son of Man himself has nowhere to lay his head. The world and its values are upside down - and the Messiah, the Son of Man, is here to reverse the order. The effects of holiness show us the nature of the values we see in a fallen world. That the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head when even the foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests tells us about our world - and about the spiritual reality that has come to reveal itself and to teach us about what we see and understand, and how we judge.

Then another of his disciples said to him, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." But Jesus said to him, Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead." My study bible notes, "Jesus is not negating the command to honor parents. He means that nothing ought to be more urgent to us than the things of the Kingdom. Those who ignore heavenly priority are spiritually dead." This is another profound statement about spiritual perspective, about the reality of this kingdom that is intersecting with the reality of the world. What does it take for discipleship? Jesus has just told one disciple of his poverty and homelessness - even he, the great Teacher, the Son of Man faces this hardship in the world. And here, family obligations of the most solemn kind are given a particular treatment. "Let the dead bury their own dead" refers to those who fail to see, and places devotion to the kingdom ahead of worldly values. It is not a condemnation of family obligations, certainly - but it is a statement that there are those who will fulfill such obligations, while those called to the kingdom put that obligation first - just as the material concerns of daily life come second to the kingdom to the one who has nowhere to lay his head.

Now when he got into a boat, his disciples followed him. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But he was asleep. Then his disciples came to him and awoke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" But he said to them, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?" Then he arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. So the men marveled, saying, "Who can this be, that even the winds and sea obey him?" My study bible notes here, "Jesus' mastery over creation is another powerful sign that he is the Messiah and is divine. Commands to the sea and waves (v. 24) cannot be issued by a mere human being, but only by God (Job 28:8-11; Ps. 65:5-8; 107:29). Jesus was asleep because he was truly fatigued and needed the rest, for in his Incarnation he assumed all the natural and blameless passions of humanity, of which sleep is one. His inactivity intensified the disciples' fear, giving this miracle a greater impact. The image of Christ and the disciples in a boat is traditionally used to depict the Lord and his Church. God permits storms, and delivers us from them, so that we can see his blessings and protection more clearly. Jesus, rebuking the storms, reminds us that he puts an end to the tempest in our souls." As my study bible indicates, power over the forces of nature is a clear sign in the gospel that we are dealing with divinity - and Jesus' sleep is his human side. He is (as the previous verses tell us) by his own self-reference, the Son of Man. Those who would be his disciples must be prepared not only for the vicissitudes of life: issues of material survival, family obligation (including the one with the strongest impact - death and mourning), and here the storm on the sea and the accompanying fears and emotions we all face. But we must also prepare for transcendence. We go through the realities of the world we live in with another in mind that teaches us about who we are and what we are here for - and how we negotiate all of these difficulties attached to our world. We have another priority that gives us shape and definition, a form to our lives within which we are disciples. It refines for us our choices, our priorities, and values. And we are dedicated to its reality, its teachings, and our Lord. He is the bridegroom of the Church, the Teacher, and the Comforter.

Midst the healings in this part of Matthew's gospel, we are given a picture of this man at the center, Jesus, who has referenced himself today as Son of Man. He sets down his values, his priorities - and teaches us in today's passage the way in which we must negotiate the affairs of the world in order to be his disciples. We have a perspective that sets things in a particular order that may be at odds with the world. Indeed, the effect of the holy is to "turn things upside down" while the world in its values may be seen as upside down. The "Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." His life with his disciples also teaches us that we will all still be subject to the realities of the world and its demands - and yet we are to negotiate them with a particular perspective in mind, a goal, a priority - and that is the kingdom. Like the parable of the Sower, which will illustrate these cares and needs as a riddle for the multitudes, we are to be firmly rooted in faith. It requires of us the ability to see, to bear fruit, to hold fast to something through our difficulties - and not to give in to the demands placed on us through all this earthly life of needs, pressures, and fears and and other emotions. While the good news of the gospels teaches us that he is here to "lift up the lowly" and to "fill the hungry with good things" - and the Beatitudes Jesus has so recently taught in this gospel give us a picture of the transcendent reality we embrace through spiritual values in faith - today's passage prepares us to look at life in all of its reality, its pressures and demands, and our own emotional natures. We will live through all of it, experience all of it. But we are called to do so with faith. As disciples, this is our job. Just as Jesus as Son of Man is both human and divine - as expressed in today's reading - so we are to live through the world in all of its fullness: we are here to root a heavenly kingdom in our earthly lives. This passage teaches us that we face all of reality unflinching, undenying, and yet we live through it in faith - with faith. Our Teacher does not tell us to put on "rose-colored glasses." Rather, this faith - as will Jesus' earthly life - reaches out to grasp all of life in its reality, the bitter and the sweet, the difficult and the joyously transcendent. And so, we are, like Him. We achieve this through faith - that is all he tries to teach us here, in that boat on the stormy sea, as we go through life and face its difficulties and put his priorities first.