Daily Thoughts: If you have
ever made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land chances are that when you visited the
Sea of Galilee you took a little boat trip out on to the sea with your group.
During you voyage today’s Gospel story might have been read. Now I am guessing
when you took your trip it was a beautiful sunny day and the waters were calm
but the tour guide or perhaps the priest with you after reading today’s Gospel
asked you to pause and think about being in the boat on a stormy sea. They
might have asked you to put yourself into the story. What would your reaction
be? How would you feel being tossed about in a stormy sea?
It is a stormy scene in today's Gospel
and it might be worth taking some time to reflection on the personalities whom
we find in today’s story. First, there is Jesus. He has left the disciple and
taken some time to pray. Yet ever the Good Shepherd he comes to them in the
midst of the storm by walking on the water. It's useless to quibble about what,
why and how this walking was accomplished. It is just important to know that
Jesus was watching over his sheep like any Good Shepherd.
Our next character is Peter. As we learn
throughout the Gospels, Peter is always the impulsive one, he wants to be with
Jesus on the water. Is he testing Jesus? Does Peter’s ego get the best of him
thus at this moment he wants to be special, he wants to do something
miraculous? Who knows what going through Peter’s mind at this moment! What is
important is that Peter finds out that he cannot do it alone. So he has to ask
Jesus for help – “Lord save me!” It is a lesson that we all have to learn in
times of crisis, we need to put our trust in God and God will save us, perhaps
not exactly as we would like but in a way that will ultimately be best for us.
Finally we have the other disciples who
must have just holding on in the boat for dear life totally awe by what was
happening. Imagine their reaction as the winds and waves suddenly stop and the
boat became perfectly calm. What was the purpose of this moment in their
journey with Jesus? Perhaps it was a moment of faith building. If so I think
Jesus’ mission was accomplished because in the Gospel we hear, "Those who
were in the boat showed him homage, saying, 'Truly, you are the Son of
God.'"
Now just like on a pilgrimage to the
Holy Land standing in the midst of a calm boat we might ask ourselves – If we
had been there in the storm, would Jesus' words been directed at us? "O
you of little faith, why did you doubt?"
Many of the disciples were fishermen by trade. They knew the sea. They
knew its power. They probably had been in a boat before during a storm. Fear
can cause even the best of us to doubt. We are asked today to trust in the
presence of God in our lives even in the midst of life’s storms. Jesus is the
Good Shepherd, he always comes to the rescue of those he loves. Why is it that
we like the disciples often find it so difficult to trust that Jesus is with us
even in the midst of the storms of our life?
Let us have faith and trust today and
always in the Good Shepherd, the Faithful Sea Captain – Jesus! Have a great
Tuesday everyone.
Daily Prayer: O God, fill our
souls with holy joy, courage, and strength to serve you. Enkindle your love in us
and then walk with us along the next stretch of road before us. We do not see
very far ahead, but when we arrive where the horizon now closes down, a new
prospect will open before us, and we shall meet it with peace. Amen (Adapted from a prayers by St. Teresa
Benedicta of the Cross)
A Runner’s Thoughts: Spirituality
for running - The miracle isn't that we finish. The miracle is that we have the
courage to start and bring God with us! (Adapted
from a quote by John Bingham)
Daily Blessing: Tuesday greetings
and blessings to everyone! I hope your day has started off well and if not take
a deep breath, and continue your journey with the hope that this too will pass!
We had storms very early this morning in Pelham but the thunder, lightning and
rain has cleared and it is a beautiful day here in Pelham I hope the same is
true for you.
In a few hours I will be leaving for Sag
Harbor, NY and the Cormaria Retreat House where I will be on the team directing
an eight day directed retreat beginning this evening. Please remember all the
people who will be making the retreat for the next eight days and those of us
who will be directing them.
My prayer of blessing today comes from a
prayer by St. Dominic – May God the Father who made us bless us. May God the
Son send his healing among us. May God the Holy Spirit move within us and give
us eyes to see with, ears to hear with, and hands that our work will get done.
May we walk and proclaim the Word of God to all by the living of our life this
day. May the angel of peace watch over us and led us by God’s grace to the
Kingdom.
Enjoy your day everyone and may it be a
safe and peaceful one. Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul
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