Lord, save us

As Jesus got into the 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. (Mt 8:23-24)
The sea is the image of life that each of us is called to embark upon in our fragile boat. There are lulls of good weather and there are recurring tempests. This voyage is inevitable and can instill fear and anxiety, especially in today's society where anonymity dominates and it is easy to feel alone. We may feel as though we are drowning in the hostile waves on a moonless night. Shore seems like a distant and foggy mirage. The limitations of others create a heavy burden, ballast that renders rowing more difficult.
From the moment of the Incarnation, God has placed His boat alongside ours on these terrible waves. What's more, He asked Peter and now asks us to let Him come into our boat. From that moment, there no longer exists nights that are not illuminated by the light of faith, weak as it may be. It is true that there are days in which Jesus seems to be deeply asleep and the waves threaten to overwhelm us. Our prayer seems to be drowned out by the winds. We may even say, I no longer know how to pray. There is only one prayer full of an anguished cry that rises to our lips: Lord, save us!
This is the sincerest prayer because it rises from the depths of our being where we find ourselves face to face with our existential poverty. It is there that He is present, though asleep. He sleeps in order to re-awaken our drowsy faith. He sleeps but His heart keeps vigil. Let us listen to Him and treasure His words full of tender reproach, 'Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?'

(From Friends and Servants of the Word, June 30, 2009)