March 5

Fourth Tuesday after Epiphany

Then He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him! S. Matthew 8:26, 27.

AND surely it must have been a very wonderful sight, as much so as was ever beheld by man. There is something very magnificent in the power of the sea, it at once opens the heart to great wonders; and in the strength also of violent winds there is something which appears to us quite uncontrollable and beyond all resistance; we naturally connect them both with our ideas of God's power. For one, therefore, who appeared but a moment before to be sleeping as a man, overcome by weariness and exhaustion, to speak with the tongue of man to the sea and the winds as if they were His own creatures, so that while they were contending in their utmost violence and fury, they should hear and obey His voice—this must have been indeed to "see the wonders of the Lord in the deep," and to behold the human and Divine natures of our blessed Lord.

Saviour of mankind, Man, Emmanuel! Who sinless died for sin: Who vanquished hell: The first-fruits of the grave: Whose life did give Light to our darkness; in Whose death we live: Oh strengthen Thou my faith, convert my will, That mine may Thine obey; protect me still, So that the latter death may not devour My soul sealed with Thy seal. So, in that hour, When Thou, A glorious Judge, shall come To judge the world with justice: by that sign I may be known, and entertained for Thine.

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