August 3
Jesus Walking on the Water
Gospel: Matthew 14:22-36
Today's Gospel: Matthew 14:22-36 (Jesus Walking on
the Water)
“Then he made the disciples get into the boat and
go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he
had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When
evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was many furlongs
distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them. And
in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when
the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It
is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. But immediately he spoke to
them, saying, "Take heart, it is I; have no fear." And Peter answered
him, "Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water." He
said, "Come." So, Peter got out of the boat and walked on the
water and came to Jesus; but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning
to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." Jesus immediately reached out
his hand and caught him, saying to him, "O man of little faith, why did
you doubt?" And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in
the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." And
when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. And when the men
of that place recognized him, they sent around to all that region and brought
to him all that were sick and besought him that they might only touch the
fringe of his garment; and as many as touched it were made well.”
Reflection:
Peter is the only man in history who ever walked
on water and still needed saving. He got out of the boat, which took real faith
already, more than the other eleven ever showed. But the moment he looked at
the wind instead of at Jesus, he started to sink. And notice what Jesus didn't
do. He didn't let him drown to teach him a lesson. He didn't wait for Peter to
swim back to the boat on his own strength. Scripture says immediately Jesus
stretched out his hand and caught him.
That's the heart of the spiritual life in one line. You get out of the boat,
you take the risk of faith, and somewhere in the middle of it your courage runs
out, and the wind looks bigger than it did from the deck. That's not failure.
That's just the moment Peter is standing in when he cries out, “Lord, save me.”
Three words. No excuses or explanations. Just a hand reaching out.
Our Lady never needed rescuing from doubt the way Peter did, but she knew what
it was to stand in a strong wind and hold on anyway, at the foot of the cross,
not stepping back, not looking away. She's proof that the water doesn't have to
swallow you if you keep your eyes fixed on her Son the way she did.
You don't have to be a strong swimmer to get out of the boat. You just have to
be willing to cry out when you start to sink.
What's the wind of distractions in your life that you keep looking at
instead of Him? Pray this prayer every single day, “Jesus, I Trust in You,” and
then live it. And little by little, you see and feel the Lord’s presence in your
life.
Rosary Man
Jim 🌹
Freely
given. Freely shared.
