Vigils Reading – 12th Sunday

OBEY THE GOD WHO MADE YOU

From a commentary by St Augustine1

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The Lord’s power is by no means dead, nor is it asleep. Do you think the

Almighty was overcome by sleep in the boat against his will? If you do, then

Christ is asleep in your hearts. If he were indeed keeping watch within you, then

your faith too would be vigilant. The Apostle, remember, speaks of Christ

dwelling in your hearts through faith.

This sleep of Christ has a symbolic meaning. The boat’s crew are human

souls sailing across the sea of this world in a wooden vessel. That vessel, of

course, also represents the Church; but as each one of us is a temple of God,

each one’s heart is a sailing boat, nor can it be wrecked so long as we fill our

minds only with what is good.

When you have to listen to abuse, that means that you are being buffeted

by the wind; when your anger is roused, you are being tossed by the waves. So

when the winds blow and the waves mount high, the boat is in danger, your

heart is imperiled, your heart is taking a battering. On hearing yourself insulted,

you long to retaliate; but the joy of revenge brings with it another kind of

misfortune – shipwreck. Why is this? Because Christ is asleep in you. What do

I mean? I mean you have forgotten his presence. Rouse him, then; remember

him, let him keep watch within you, pay heed to him.

Now what is your desire? You wanted to get your own back. You have

forgotten that when Christ was being crucified he said: Father, forgive them,

for they know not what they do. Christ, the sleeper in your heart, had no desire

for vengeance in his. Rouse him, then, call him to mind. (To remember him is

to recall his words… his commands.) Then, when he is awake within you, you

will ask yourself, “Whatever kind of wretch am I to be thirsting for revenge?

Who am I to threaten another? Suppose I were to die before I were avenged!

Suppose I were to take leave of my body breathing out threats, inflamed with

rage and thirsting for that vengeance which Christ himself never sought; would

he not refuse to receive me? He who said, Give and it shall be given you; forgive

and you will be forgiven, would indeed decline to acknowledge me. So I will

curb my anger and restore peace to my heart.

Now all is calm again. Christ has rebuked the sea. What I have said about

anger must be your rule of conduct in every temptation. A temptation arises: it

is the wind. It disturbs you: it is the surging of the sea. This is the moment to

awaken Christ and let him remind you of these words: Who can this be? Even

the winds and the sea obey him. Who is this whom the sea obeys? It is he to

whom the sea belongs, for he made it; all things were made through him.

Try, then, to be more like the wind and the sea; obey the God who made

you. The sea obeys Christ’s command, and are you going to turn a deaf ear to it?

The sea obeys him, the wind is still; will you persist with your blustering?

Words, actions, schemes, what are all these but a constant huffing and puffing,

a refusal to be still at Christ’s command?

When your heart is in this troubled state, do not let the waves overwhelm

you. If, since we are only human, the driving wind should stir up in us a tumult

of emotions, let us not despair but awaken Christ, so that we may sail in quiet

waters, and at last reach our heavenly homeland.

1 Journey with the Fathers – Year B – New City Press – 1993 – pg 92.3