St. Augustine of Canterbury Parish
Introduction:
We experience instances of great stability. But we encounter moments of great turbulence
as well. Do we recognize how God is reaching out his hand to save us? Do we allow the
presence of God to make the strong wave or wind in our lives cease?
Theme:
“When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshipped him,
saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’” (Matthew 14: 32-33)
But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid
In this weekend’s Gospel, we notice that the disciples were afraid during three instances:
1. the boat, battered by the waves; 2. the ghost; and the strong wind. In these instances,
the disciples doubted the help and ability of Jesus. Inspite of this, Jesus reassures them to
take heart and to avoid being afraid. We would have thought that after one instance of
doubt the disciples will trust the help of Jesus, but this is not the case. During many
instances, the disciples were doubtful of Jesus’ ability, yet Jesus reassured them in each
instance.
We too might encounter a variation or instances of fear and doubt. Our life, like a boat,
might be battered by scary waves. Situations in our life might be looming and coming
towards us like a ghost. Problems might be heading towards us like strong wind to make
us stumble. Jesus is with us even during instances of battered life saying, “Take heart, it
is I; do not be afraid” (Matthew 14: 27) or “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
(Matthew 14:31).
Jesus reaches out to each one of us whether all is well with us or not: “Jesus immediately
reached out his hand and caught him (Matthew 14:31).
All that Jesus Christ has done and is doing for us, do we profess our faith and trust in
him? The disciples professed their faith after Jesus Christ rescued them: “When they got
into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshipped him, saying, ‘Truly you
are the Son of God’” (Matthew 14:32-33).
No matter how many instances of ghosts, scary waves and strong winds we encounter in
life, Jesus is walking towards us and reaching out to save us after many hours of his
prayer in solitude:
“Immediately after feeding the crowd
with the five loaves and two fish,
Jesus made the disciples get into the boat
and go on ahead to the other side,
while he dismissed the crowds.
And after he had dismissed the crowds,
he went up the mountain by himself to pray.
When evening came, he was there alone,
but by this time the boat, battered by the waves,
was far from the land,
for the wind was against them.
And early in the morning
Jesus came walking toward them 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 in fear.
But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said,
“Take heart, it is I;
do not be afraid.”
Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you,
command me to come to you on the water.”
Jesus said, “Come.”
So Peter got out of the boat,
started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus.
But when he noticed the strong wind,
he became frightened, and beginning to sink,
he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him,
saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
When they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
And those in the boat worshipped him, saying,
‘Truly you are the Son of God.’” (Gospel: Matthew 14.22-33)
When Jesus Christ reaches out his hand to save us, are we willing to be rescued by him?
Do we recognize the help Jesus offers?
Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by
The Prophet Elijah too experienced instances of a great wind, splitting mountains, broken
rocks, an earthquake, and a fire. Elijah wanted to trust in the Lord in all instances. Elijah
wanted to recognize the Lord in all instances:
“When Elijah reached Horeb, the mountain of God,
he came to a cave, and spent the night there.
Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying,
“Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord,
for the Lord is about to pass by.”
Now there was a great wind,
so strong that it was splitting mountains
and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord,
but the Lord was not in the wind;
and after the wind an earthquake,
but the Lord was not in the earthquake;
and after the earthquake a fire,
but the Lord was not in the fire;
and after the fire a sound of sheer silence.
When Elijah heard it,
he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out
and stood at the entrance of the cave.” (1 Kings 19.9, 11-13)
Like Elijah, let us also be at the place where we can recognize and profess the Lord and
his works:
“Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
for he will speak peace to his people.
Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him,
that his glory may dwell in our land.
Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet;
righteousness and peace will kiss each other.
Faithfulness will spring up from the ground,
and righteousness will look down from the sky.
The Lord will give what is good,
and our land will yield its increase.
Righteousness will go before him,
and will make a path for his steps.” (Psalm 85.8ab+9, 10-11, 12-13)
Let us wrap around ourselves faithfulness and truth even during instances of sorrow and
anguish:
“I am speaking the truth in Christ.
I am not lying;
my conscience confirms it by the Holy Spirit.
I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.
For I could wish that I myself were accursed
and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people,
my kindred according to the flesh.
They are Israelites,
and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants,
the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises;
to them belong the patriarchs,
and from them, according to the flesh, comes the Messiah,
who is over all,
God be blessed forever. Amen.” (Second: Romans 9.1-5)
Conclusion :
God is in our lives to make the winds of trouble cease or at least calm down. Do we trust
or doubt him? How do the presence and ability of God in our lives inspire people to
recognize him and profess him as “those in the boat worshipped him, saying, ‘Truly you
are the Son of God’” (Matthew 14:33)?