‘Save us, Lord, we are going down!’ And he said to them, ‘Why are you so frightened, you men of little faith?’ And with that he stood up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and all was calm again.
Mt.8:25,26
While crossing the Sea of Galilee with Jesus asleep in the boat, the disciples succumb to fear as a great storm overtakes them. They awaken Jesus who rebukes them for their lack of faith and then instantly calms the storm.
I would have said the disciples acted in faith by taking their fear to Jesus. But Jesus says no, fear is not to be the motivator for seeking his intervention. As believers we are forbidden to be afraid as it gives oxygen to lack of faith. The motivators for seeking Jesus' intervention are faith, hope and love. Fear has no place among these virtues.
Jesus, sometimes fear is my prayer motivator. Help me reach out to you in faith, hope and love.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for us.
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