In the Spirit of Feria Secunda infra Hebdomadam IV post Epiphaniam
As we journey through this liturgical season after Epiphany, Holy Mother Church presents us with two passages rich in meaning for our spiritual life: Romans 13:8-10 and Matthew 8:23-27. These readings, though distinct, unite in their call to perfect charity and unwavering faith in Christ amid life’s tempests.
The Fulfillment of the Law in Charity (Rom 13:8-10)
St. Paul exhorts us:
“Owe no man any thing, but to love one another. For he that loveth his neighbor hath fulfilled the law.” (Rom 13:8)
Charity is the heart of the Christian life. The Apostle teaches that all commandments—whether against adultery, murder, theft, or false witness—find their perfection in the single precept: “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” (Rom 13:9).
The Church Fathers on Charity
St. Augustine, in his Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans, reminds us that love is not mere sentiment but the highest form of obedience to God:
“Where there is love, there is no sin; where perfect love reigns, the law itself is unnecessary, for love accomplishes all that the law commands.” (Expositio in Epistolam ad Romanos, XIII)
Similarly, St. John Chrysostom exhorts us to reflect on the depth of this commandment:
“For he who loves as he ought will neither commit adultery, nor kill, nor steal, nor bear false witness; indeed, love does greater things than these: it bestows blessings on its enemies, and prays for those who persecute it.” (Homilies on Romans, 24)
Thus, in charity, the moral law is not abolished but transcended. It is no longer external commandments that constrain us, but love itself that compels us to goodness.
Faith Amid the Storm (Matt 8:23-27)
In today’s Gospel, Christ enters the boat with His disciples and is soon asleep. A storm arises, the waves threaten to engulf them, and the disciples cry out in fear:
“Lord, save us: we perish!” (Matt 8:25)
Jesus rebukes them:
“Why are you fearful, O ye of little faith?” (Matt 8:26)
With a single command, He calms the winds and the sea, leaving the disciples astonished.
The Church Fathers on the Storm and the Soul
St. Jerome, interpreting this passage, sees the boat as a figure of the Church:
“The boat in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves, is the Church struggling with the trials of this world. The Lord’s sleep signifies that when we grow weak in faith, He seems to abandon us. Yet when we cry out, He arises and commands peace.” (Commentary on Matthew, Bk I)
Similarly, St. Augustine allegorizes the storm as the trials of the soul:
“When you are insulted, it is a wind. When you grow angry, it is a wave. If the wind blows and the waves surge, the ship is in peril. Your heart is tossed by tempests. But awaken Christ, let Him speak to you: ‘Who is this, that the sea and winds obey Him?’ Have faith, and the storm will subside.” (Sermon 63)
How often do we find ourselves like the disciples—trembling before life’s storms, fearful that God is silent? Yet Christ’s rebuke reminds us that faith must be steadfast. Even when God appears asleep, He is ever in control. Our response must be trust, knowing that He who commands the seas also governs our souls.
Faith and Charity: The Two Pillars of Christian Life
These two readings together provide a profound lesson:
- In Romans 13, St. Paul teaches that charity is the fulfillment of the law.
- In Matthew 8, Christ calls us to unwavering faith in Him, even in the storms of life.
The life of the Christian must be founded upon these twin pillars: love and trust. We must love our neighbor with perfect charity, for in doing so, we fulfill the law. At the same time, we must trust in God with unshakable faith, for He is Lord even of the tempests that assail us.
As we continue in this liturgical season, let us ask for the grace to embody both these virtues. May the charity of Christ inflame our hearts, and may our faith in Him remain firm, even in life’s fiercest storms.
Domine, salva nos, perimus!
“Lord, save us, we perish!” (Matt 8:25)
Let us make this our prayer, confident that He who commands the winds and the sea will also guide our souls to safe harbor.
Liturgical Collect for the Day
Deus, qui nos in tantis periculis constitutos pro humana scis fragilitate non posse subsistere: da nobis salutem mentis et corporis; ut ea quae pro peccatis nostris patimur, te adjuvante vincamus.
“O God, who knowest that through human frailty we cannot stand firm amid such great dangers: grant us health of mind and body, that by Thy help we may overcome what we suffer for our sins.”
Amen.