Sunday Gospel Reflection - 10-August-2014

Nineteenth Sunday of the Year A – 10 August 2014

Matthew 14: 22-33

Photo: Google

 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” 

IN THE MIDST OF THE CRISIS

By José Antonio Pagola

 It is not difficult to see in the boat of the disciples of Jesus , battered by the waves and tossed about by a contrary wind, the image of the Church today, threatened from the outside by all kinds of adversities and tempted within by fear and little faith. How do we read this Gospel story from the angle of the crisis in which the Church seems today to be floundering? 

 According to the evangelist, “Jesus approaches the boat walking on the water.” The disciples are not able to recognize him in the midst of the storm and the darkness of the night. He seems to them some kind of a ghost. Fear keeps them terrorized. That powerful storm is the only reality. 

 This is our first problem. We are going through the crisis in the Church by transmitting to each other discouragement, fear, and lack of faith. We aren't able to see that Jesus is coming to us precisely on account of this strong crisis. We feel more than ever alone and defenseless. 

 Jesus speaks three words to them: “Courage. It is I. Do not fear.” Only Jesus can speak to them in this way. But their ears only hear the crash of the waves, and the strength of the wind. This is our mistake too. If we do not listen to the invitation of Jesus to place our unconditional trust in him, to whom shall we go? 

 Peter feels an inner impulse and sustained by the call of Jesus, he leaps from the boat and “goes towards Jesus walking on the water.” This is how we must learn today to walk towards Jesus in the midst of the crisis: relying not on the power, prestige and securities of the past, but with the hope of meeting Jesus in the midst of the darkness and the uncertainty of the present times. 

 It’s not going to be easy. We too can hesitate and sink like Peter. But just as he did we can feel that Jesus stretches out his hand and saves us as he says to us: “Men of little faith, why do you doubt?”

 Why do we doubt so much? Why is it that we are learning hardly anything new from the crisis? Why do we look for false securities to “survive” within our communities, without learning to walk with renewed faith towards Jesus in the very midst of the secularized society of our times? 

 This crisis is not the end of the Christian faith. It is the purification we need to free ourselves from worldly interests, deceptive and distorting desires for the kinds of success that have been distancing us from Jesus in the course of centuries. He is at work in this crisis. He is leading us towards a more evangelical Church. Let us revive our trust in Jesus. Let us banish fear.

Translated by Rev. Fr. Valentine de Souza S.J.