Daily Thoughts - 08/02/2016

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 prayer 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 is starting off well, if not take a deep breath, and continue your journey with the hope that this too will pass! We are looking at another cloudy day with possible storms throughout. You can feel the humidity. At least this is helping our drought situation a little. I hope the weather is treating you better these days.

In a half hour or so I will be heading to Chappaqua for the 8:30 am mass and then on to Rye Brook for a day at the office. I am still not use to heading to the office each day but I will be away for a couple of weeks in August so I have to make these days in the office count.

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 Tuesday everyone and may it be a safe and peaceful one. Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul