TUESDAY OF THE EIGHTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

READINGS

Gospel Matthew 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

Do you fear the sea? Do you fear heights?

My husband, Kevin, and I liked to go fishing off-shore in the Gulf of Mexico. We would fish around the oil platforms 20 miles from shore in 300 feet of water. The water is usually blue at that depth and the you catch red snapper, grouper, barracuda and sharks.

On this trip we had a friend with us and we had caught a few fish and a nice red snapper about 25 pounds near this one platform, but fishing slowed down. So, we decided to move to the next platform. As we were approaching the next platform the engine stopped moving forward. My husband tried to work on the engine but he could only get it to move in reverse. He decided to back towards the platform and tie to it and go up to talk to the Company Man who was in charge of operations on the platform. Kevin returned to let us know that he could get the workboat to tow our boat to the marina, but our friend and I would have to go on the helicopter back to shore and get the trailer for the boat.

The oil platform is about 300 feet above the surface of the water and the helideck is at the top of the platform. All of the stairways are metal and extend over the water. So I was a little anxious about climbing up the platform. When it was time to get off our boat, our friend could not do it, he was afraid. My husband looked at me and knew that I was afraid of heights, so he said that he would hold my hand all the way, don't look down, and we were going to go up the stairs fast. We must have gone up 10 or more flights of stairs in record time. I trusted Kevin to not let go of my hand.

The disciples were in a boat and the sea was getting rough. Then they see someone walking toward them. No one can walk on the sea.! "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!”

Trust in Jesus. Peter did trust that he could go to Jesus, but when he stopped looking toward Jesus and looked at his surroundings he began to sink. Like Peter if I had let go of Kevin's hand I would have frozen or missed-stepped.

Jesus wants us to trust in Him. Just as we try to make our way to Christ through the stormy temptations and challenges of life in this secular world, focusing on Christ is the only way to keep afloat.

Jesus will never abandon us in our need; he only wants us to believe in Him. In his words to Peter, we catch a glimpse of his heart, longing so deeply for us to trust Him without uncertainty: “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Let us pray to the Holy Spirit to give us that trust, that faith in Jesus.

“If I try by myself to swim across the ocean of this world, the waves will certainly engulf me. In order to survive I must climb aboard a ship made of wood; this wood is the Cross of Christ. Of course, even on board ship there will be dangerous tempests and perils from the sea of this world. But God will help me remain on board the ship and arrive safely at the harbor of eternal life.” – St. Augustine