March 3

Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

And when He was entered into a ship, His disciples followed Him. S. Matthew 8:23.

OUR Lord, now in the second year of His preaching, on finding the Jews more and more hard-hearted and unbelieving, crosses the lake of Galilee unto those parts of the country which were more among the Gentiles. And this is probably the reason for this passage being selected for this Sunday of Epiphany, as a further manifestation which our Lord made of Himself to us Gentiles. "And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but He was asleep." Now this of itself may be a real comfort to us, that a dangerous storm and great distress may happen even to the best of men; such things are no proof that we are deserted of God, or that He is displeased with us. Christ being in the ship with His disciples did not prevent the storm, and this circumstance hallows and ennobles to us such an occurrence in a way that no heathen could have understood, and especially such as occur to the Church, which is indeed that sacred vessel which contains Christ and His people, and is almost always as it were "in jeopardy" and "covered with the waves." And Christ within her is often as it were "asleep," trying our faith and waiting for our prayers.

Come, Tribulation, come! 'tis not in light

A Saviour's face I see;

Cherubic hosts alone can dare that sight

Or the beloved three.

'Tis when Thy shadowy form

Broods in the o'erhanging storm,

That tints of heavenly hue

Amidst the landscape dark I joy to view.