And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep (Matt. 8:24).
A great tempest has arisen. When I log into social media, listen to the news, or hear the concerns of family and friends, I have no doubt that a great tempest is here. The American economy weakens along with the US Dollar; political servants of the Military Industrial Complex shove us closer and closer to World War III; major and minor news outlets serve political parties and ideologies rather than searching for truth; civil rights erode as governments around the world slowly move toward totalitarianism; apparently, men are not men and women are not women, these things are mere social constructs; mental health and suicide rates increase among a young population that is confused by a society that has lost its grip on both meaning and reality; chat bots and electronic discourse replace much of the real life interactions that normally keep societies together; the list goes on.
A great tempest has risen in our nation and in our hearts. Like the disciples in the story, we’re filled with dread and cry, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” What’s going to happen if things fall apart? What kind of world are my children going to grow up in? How do I protect my loved ones?
But our Lord responds to the disciples and us, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?”
Fear is the opposite of faith in the same way that darkness is the opposite of light. It is its absence. When faith does not reign in our hearts, fear most certainly will. While intoxication, delusion, and complete ignorance can temporarily suspend both faith and fear, for most of us, either one or the other abides.
We humans are designed to be temples of the living God. Yet like the disciples, we’re too caught up in the cares of this world to notice the divine presence quietly “sleeping” in our ship. We sing about our temple-bodies at every Divine Liturgy, Let us who mystically represent the cherubim…lay aside all earthly cares…that we may receive the King of all. But if faith in God does not dwell in the temple of our heart, then fear and other earthly cares will. Nature abhors a vacuum, and so does our internal temple. It will be filled with something.
I write this – not as one who has attained great faith – but as one fearful doubter speaking to another. I’m like the disciples, white knuckles clasping the wooden rail of the ship, knees knocking as the wind blows rain into my eyes. My tiny vessel rocks relentlessly in the violent waves. I fear for my country, for my posterity, and for my comforts.
Fortunately, our Lord is still working miracles, Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm (Matt. 8:26). While there will not be a great calm in worldly affairs until the Second Coming, there absolutely can be a great calm in this heart of mine. To abide in an external tempest with internal calm is, indeed, a miracle. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, in this earthen vessel as it is in heaven. God desires to transform all of us into little temples, into little oases of Eden in this world of stormy tempests. May He grant us faith.
Epilogue:
I was going to end this article at the paragraph above, but I decided to add one more thought. We cannot merely wish for faith. Wishing does nothing. Faith comes through transforming our mindset, seeing the world through different eyes. If we inundate ourselves with the world and its messages, then we will lose faith. This fading shadow of life will eclipse the true reality of the heavenly Kingdom that is in our midst.
We must intentionally set aside time every day for prayer, reading of scripture, and other spiritual reading. We should go on walks in nature with friends, with family, or with Christ and the angels. Having scheduled moments throughout the day or week in which we entirely unplug from electronics can heal the soul and calm the mind. And of course, we must go to church and receive God’s grace in the sacraments. I find I have to be intentional about most of these things or else they won’t happen. In all their simplicity, they are the building blocks of faith, and the medicine for worldly attachments and fear.
****************************************************************************************************************************************************************** But his presence is forcing me to lean into my faith in Christ, the Saviour of the World. +He is risen+
(Comment edited by moderator to remove unwarranted political message. We don’t engage in partisan politics on this website.)
Fr. Jeremy,
I affirm and rejoice in your exegesis and application of this text from St. Matthew. Faith in our only Savior needs to route out all earthly fears.
I acknowledge the grim realities facing Christian believers today in America and many other countries, having experienced them first-hand living in USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and elsewhere in the course of my 73 years. For over 30 of those years I was a active Protestant Christian, and for over 30 years I am an a active Orthodox Christian. I’ve been through a lot on these cultural and spiritual battlefields, experiencing some victories, but more defeats, over the long haul. I gave more attention to the storm than to the Savior. God forgive me.
It has been a consolation and encouragement to me to learn that not every place on our planet is as dominated by the powers of darkness as my former homes. When I retired from business, I was privileged and blessed to find a new home where Christian faith and life is overcoming fear and death to a remarkable degree.
Three years ago I made my home in Batumi, Georgia, on the Black Sea. A good 8o% of the people of the Republic of Georgia are Orthodox Christians. Batumi was evangelized in the first century by the Holy Apostles of the Twelve, Andrew, Simon the Zealot, and Matthias. All its churches are full every Sunday with more being built constantly. Daily services are common. Baptisms are multiplying the flock both with children and converts. The faith and morals of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Georgia are rock-solid, traditional, and Christ-centered.
In Georgia I have found the most deeply-rooted Christian culture of all the 114 countries I have visited. It is hardly perfect or trouble-free. But I’m finding it a lot more helpful to my soul and body than what I have found elsewhere. More peace. More freedom. More safety. More love. More health. More sanity. More Jesus. More saints. Not Paradise, but pretty good for now. Christ is still calming great tempests.
This is not to say that everybody should or could come to Georgia. But it’s worth a look for those who perceive a need. For perhaps most of your readership, that is a possibility. A US passport (or one of 95 others) and a plane ticket to any of our international airports (Tbilisi, Batumi, or Kutaisi) is all you need to stay here for a full year, or several years, if you wish. Literally. Our cost of living is very low compared to our quality of life. There are English-language Orthodox churches and communities in Tbilisi and Kutaisi, and someday soon (I pray) in Batumi. I get along with English here.
I promise you that the deficiencies of our hearts come with us to Georgia (or anywere). Christ can make us victors anywhere in the world, if we let him. But some of the battle-weary, like me, need all the help we can get.
Should anyone desire a friendly chat with me about any of this, you may message or call me free on Signal or Telegram at +995 591 116 475. Mind the time zone, please. I sell nothing. — Reader Mark
That’s very fascinating. Georgia sounds like a lovely country.