St Matthew Chapter XIV : Verses 22-33
Contents
- Matt. xiv. 22-33. Douay-Rheims text & Latin text (Vulgate).
- Notes on the text.
Matt. xiv. 22-33
 |
| Lord, save me! J-J Tissot. Brooklyn Museum. |
Et statim compulit Jesus discipulos ascendere in naviculam, et præcedere eum trans fretum, donec dimitteret turbas.
23 And having dismissed the multitude, he went into a mountain alone to pray. And when it was evening, he was there alone.
Et dimissa turba, ascendit in montem solus orare. Vespere autem facto solus erat ibi :
24 But the boat in the midst of the sea was tossed with the waves: for the wind was contrary.
navicula autem in medio mari jactabatur fluctibus : erat enim contrarius ventus.
25 And in the fourth watch of the night, he came to them walking upon the sea.
Quarta enim vigilia noctis, venit ad eos ambulans super mare.
26 And they seeing him walk upon the sea, were troubled, saying: It is an apparition. And they cried out for fear.
Et videntes eum super mare ambulantem, turbati sunt, dicentes : Quia phantasma est. Et præ timore clamaverunt.
27 And immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying: Be of good heart: it is I, fear ye not.
Statimque Jesus locutus est eis, dicens : Habete fiduciam : ego sum, nolite timere.
28 And Peter making answer, said: Lord, if it be thou, bid me come to thee upon the waters.
Respondens autem Petrus, dixit : Domine, si tu es, jube me ad te venire super aquas.
29 And he said: Come. And Peter going down out of the boat, walked upon the water to come to Jesus.
At ipse ait : Veni. Et descendens Petrus de navicula, ambulabat super aquam ut veniret ad Jesum.
30 But seeing the wind strong, he was afraid: and when he began to sink, he cried out, saying: Lord, save me.
Videns vero ventum validum, timuit : et cum coepisset mergi, clamavit dicens : Domine, salvum me fac.
31 And immediately Jesus stretching forth his hand took hold of him, and said to him: O thou of little faith, why didst thou doubt?
Et continuo Jesus extendens manum, apprehendit eum : et ait illi : Modicæ fidei, quare dubitasti?
32 And when they were come up into the boat, the wind ceased.
Et cum ascendissent in naviculam, cessavit ventus.
33 And they that were in the boat came and adored him, saying: Indeed thou art the Son of God.
Qui autem in navicula erant, venerunt, et adoraverunt eum, dicentes : Vere Filius Dei es.
Notes
to go before him over the water. St Mark gives, go before him . ... to Bethsaida. St John has to Capharnaum. Either they were to cross to Bethsaida on the western coast, which was just below Capharnaum, or they were to go to Capharnaum by way of Bethsaida (Julias), so as to take up our Lord further on. This latter view would mean that they were to keep to the coast until Jesus joined them, and then to cross over.
23. into a mountain. Cf. Jesus fled again into the mountain himself alone, because he knew they would come to take him by force and make him a king (St John vi. 15). This explains why Jesus had obliged his disciples to leave. He knew they might sympathize with the people in their idea of the Messias being an earthly monarch, who should restore the glory of Israel.
to pray. As He had done before choosing the twelve apostles. This retiring for prayer always preceded some important action ; also the next day we find our Lord promising to nourish the souls of men with the Holy Eucharist.
it was evening. This refers to the second evening. It was now between 6 and 9 o’clock.
he was there alone. Notice how beautifully St Matthew pictures out the scene. The storm-tossed vessel with its anxious crew, and, on the other hand, Jesus kneeling in silent prayer on the lonely mountain side.
 |
| OCR not available. Text taken from source. |
26. walking upon the sea. St Mark adds that he would have passed by walk on land. Thus He proved His Divinity, for God alone spreadeth out the heavens and walketh upon the waves of the sea (Job. ix. 8).
were troubled. Notice how the three Evangelists (St Luke does not mention this miracle) emphasize the apostles’ terror. They cried out for fear and were troubled, and far more astonished. Man is naturally troubled by any supernatural manifestation of power. The unknown always troubles and affrights,
an apparition. They took Him for an apparition in human form. Both Jews and Gentiles believed in spirits, with the exception of the Sadducees. So, in the evening of Easter-day, troubled and frightened, they supposed that they saw a spirit (St Luke xxiv. 37).
they cried out for fear. Their terror was augmented by the darkness and the tempest. Moreover, they were overwrought with about eight hours’ incessant rowing. St Mark notes that they all saw him, i.e. not only the apostles, but the men who were with them, either disciples, or some of the multitude who wished to recross the lake, or the hired hands.
27. Jesus spoke. He hastened to calm their fears.
It is I, fear ye not. Jesus used the same words on Easter evening. His divine voice gradually calmed their fears.
28. bid me come, etc. There was no presumption in the request ; St Peter only desired to be near his Master, St Matthew alone relates the incident of St Peter walking on the waters;
29. walked upon the water. Let, then, those who imagine that our Lord had not a true human body, because He walked on the waves, explain how St Peter also walked on the waves, who certainly had a real body ” (St Jerome).
30. seeing the wind strong, etc. “ Not the assault of the wind ; his want of faith had wrought his overthrow” (St Jn. Chrys.).
31. Jesus .... took hold of him. “And when a nestling has come out of the nest before the time, as it is on the point of falling, its mother bears it on her wings, and brings it back to the nest ; even so did Christ” (St Jn. Chrys.).
32. the wind ceased. Better, “slackened” or “ abated,” spent with its fury (ἐκόπασεν ὁ ἄνεμος). Ordinarily, a swell follows a tempest.
The first time Jesus stilled the tempest, He was bodily present with His apostles; the second time, He came to them upon the waters. Thus, whether present or unseen, sleeping or awake, He watched over His apostles in their boat ; and so now, though absent, He watches over His Church, and comes to her assistance opportunely.
33. Indeed thou art, etc. Peculiar to St Matthew. This miracle seems to have had more effect on them than the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves. Cf. For they understood not concerning the loaves ; for their heart was blinded (St Mark), not wilfully nor by malice like the Pharisees, but by ignorance and want of discernment.
It was for this kind of blindness that Jesus reproved the disciples on the road to Emmaus ; Then he said to them: O foolish, and slow of heart to believe in all things which the prophets have spoken (St Luke xxiv. 25).
Additional Notes
Order of events as given by the three Evangelists.
(а) Jesus dismisses His apostles and tells them to cross to Capharnaum. This He seems to have done when at some little distance inland, since St John tells us, “And when evening was come, his disciples went down to the sea ” ( vi. 1 6).
(b) They reluctantly set forth.
(c) Jesus dismisses the multitude, but many of them seem to have slept in the open air, since St John says that “ the next day the multitude that stood on the other side of the sea .... took shipping and came to Capharnaum seeking for Jesus” (vi. 22, 24).
(d) They withdraw a little and concert to take Him by force. “ Jesus therefore when he knew that they would come to take him by force and make him king, lied again into the mountain himself alone” (St John vi. 15).
(e) Jesus flees to the mountain alone. Darkness had now set in.
(f) Jesus prays on the mountain, while the apostles are toiling on the lake.
(g) Jesus walks on the water and goes to deliver His apostles from danger.
(h) They fearing, cry out, hut Jesus reassures them.
(i) St Peter walks on the water to go to Christ ; he almost sinks, but Jesus takes him by the hand ; they go to the ship together, and the tempest ceases.
(j) All in the boat adore Jesus and acknowledge His Divinity.
(k) Almost instantly the boat reaches the shore.
St Peter’s faith. “ St Peter’s faith and love are everywhere conspicuous. With his usual ardour he believes that he can do, at the command of his Master, what by nature was impossible. . . . The word ‘ if ’ does not argue any want of faith in our Lord on the part of St Peter. It only proves that St Peter might doubt whether it was our Lord or not ” (^MacEvilly).
Miracles wrought on this occasion. We note four, viz. —
(1) Our Lord walks on the water.
(2) St Peter walks to Him.
(3) St Peter when sinking is raised by our Lord.
(4) The storm suddenly ceases.
Totus tuus ego sum
Et omnia mea tua sunt;
Tecum semper tutus sum:
Ad Jesum per Mariam.
No comments:
Post a Comment