The Storm on the Sea of Galilee
by Rembrandt Van Rijn5

Pearls are formed when the ocean is shaken

In each of these readings we find a ship in peril. In each of these accounts we find a person asleep. The first story occurs on the Mediterranean near Joppa and the second on the Sea of Galilee. The vessels referred to in these passages were not as large as we might imagine. The cargo ship was obviously somewhat larger, but fishing boats were typical only about thirty feet long and eight feet across.

Even though the Sea of Galilee is an inland sea, the geography of the region can produce very violent storms. Winds coming across the mountains can create waves as high as thirty feet. So, in both stories, at the Sea of Galilee and the Mediterranean, you can visualize the situation: a small wooden boat, crowded with cargo or passengers, trying to survive against waves towering up to five times its height.

Each ship was manned by highly experience seamen, yet in each story they feared for their lives. In the story of Jonah conditions are so threatening that they are throwing their cargo overboard, and in the story on the Sea of Galilee they are certain that they are going to perish. Each was a desperate situation. The skill of the sailors was no match for the force of the wind and sea. The boats were tossed to and fro, with waves breaking over it bows, sailors being catapulted from stem to stern, and everyone hoping, praying, hanging on for dear life.

What is particularly odd in these conditions is that Jesus, and Jonah are asleep. How can this be? How could a person, no matter how calm or tired, sleep in such a violent situation? The answer is that their sleep is the work of the Holy Spirit and it is intended for our meditation. So, what can we gain in contemplating Jesus and Jonah sleeping in such a turbulent situation, and how does it relate to the situations we face.

First, Jonah is a figure of Christ. A common occurrence in Sacred Scripture is that Jesus re-lives the experience, the deeds and actions of His prophets. His death and resurrection, for example, mirrors and perfects the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. Jesus not only frees us from oppression, but unlike Moses brings us into the true, and eternal, promised land. Jesus is the new Adam, the new Elijah, and the new Jonah. While sleeping in the storm, Jesus makes reparation for the imperfect and reluctant response of Jonah. He makes reparation for our reluctance and imperfect love.

Second, Jesus' sleep reminds us of His divine presence. What a contrast there is between the violence of the storm and Jesus resting in peaceful slumber. Often, when we face uncertain or threatening situations, we get so worried about the difficulties we face or so consumed in sorrow that we forget that Jesus is right there by our side. Jesus has not gone away. His slumber reminds us that He is always with us. Even when He seems unresponsive, He is protecting us, guiding us, and restoring our peace. His love is stronger than the threats we face. It is stronger than death. It is even stronger than our neglect and ingratitude. Jesus is 'Faithful and True'. He needs to sleep in our souls in order to bring us peace and tranquility in the storm.

Third, Jesus responds to the fear that grips our souls. The Apostles are terrified. They are about to capsize. In shear panic they rouse Jesus from His sleep. They say, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing”. Jesus responds. He says, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” Jesus sleep calls us to faith, it asks us to trust. Jesus' love tenderly watches and nurtures our souls even when we think He has abandoned us.

Finally, Jesus does not sleep from weariness. His is a divine and mystical sleep that transforms souls. Jesus allows us to suffer. The soul needs to suffer in its innermost being, to suffer without consolation, and to suffer in darkness, so that we may receive the graces of Jesus' rest. Just as a doctor puts a patient to sleep in order to perform an operation, the Divine Physician places our souls under a divine sedative to accomplish His mystical work.

The ancients believed that pearls were formed when the ocean was shaken by a storm. So, be still in your grief, be quiet in the storm, so that Jesus is not awakened. Weep, suffer in holy trust, so that your tears may be pearls of love for Him.

by Dn. Wayland Moncrief

Reference: When Jesus Sleeps by Luis M. Martinez: Sophia Institute Press