2-Aug-16

Gospel MT 14:22-36

Jesus made the disciples get into a boat
and precede him to the other side of the sea,
while he dismissed the crowds.
After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.
When it was evening he was there alone.
Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore,
was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it.
During the fourth watch of the night,
he came toward them, walking on the sea.
When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified.
“It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear.
At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”
Peter said to him in reply,
“Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”
He said, “Come.”
Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.
But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened;
and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him,
and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
After they got into the boat, the wind died down.
Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying,
“Truly, you are the Son of God.”
After making the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret.
When the men of that place recognized him,
they sent word to all the surrounding country.
People brought to him all those who were sick
and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak,
and as many as touched it were healed.
Reflection:
"Jesus made the disciples get into a boat and precede him to the other side of the sea....."
For much of my life, I too was in a boat. My "boat" was the false sense of security given by the world.
Like the disciples , I clung to my "boat" and depended on it to keep me safe.
"When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified.
“It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear."
Often when we see someone doing something different, doing something in a new way, we are uneasy.
Fearful, our reaction may be, "What is this? It will never work for me. I'll stick to doing things the way I've always done them."
We take our sense of security and well being from hunkering down in the security of "our boat."
"At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”
Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”
He said, “Come.”
Years ago the thought of stepping out of "the boat of life" and putting my trust in God would have left me paralyzed with fear.
Just as Jesus said, "Come" to Peter, He also encourages us to "come," to step out in faith and follow Him.
"But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Two thousand years later, we are much like Peter. We step out in faith and then we take our eyes off of Jesus.
We become "frightened" and retreat to the security of our boat.
Each time we overcome our fear and put our trust in Jesus Christ, our faith becomes stronger.
It's like a young child sitting on a tree branch. She becomes afraid and calls, "Help me, Dad."
The father raises his arms and says, "Jump, I'll catch you."
Fearful, she hesitates. Then, with faith in her father, she jumps and joyously throws her arms around her dad's neck.
Take the "leap of faith." Jesus Christ will never drop you.
"For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." - - Isaiah 41:13