Friday, August 07, 2020

Reflection for Sunday August 9, Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Matthew 14:22-33


Gospel: Matthew 14:22-33
After he had fed the people, Jesus made the disciples get into a boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone. Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear. At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” After they got into the boat, the wind died down. Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God.”
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Reflection:
Do we have this feeling of constant need for Jesus? Wherein our day is not complete without praying to Him? Many of us have this thirst for Jesus not only because we need Him to help us with our daily challenges. We have this need for Jesus for the reason that we simply want to connect with Him and our day is not complete without Him. 

Jesus in our gospel saw to it that Peter and the other disciples ride the boat going to the other side of the lake while He went to the mountain to pray. Unfortunately the boat encountered a severe storm that it was being battered by huge waves. During that scary ride they suddenly thought about Jesus to save them from that dangerous situation but He was not with them.

Early morning  came and they saw Jesus walking on water going toward them. Their need for their savior was addressed by Jesus. Why? Because in that dire situation Peter and the other disciples were already praying for Jesus’ help and Jesus heard their prayers that’s why He walked on water going to them to save them.

We are presently in the midst of a severe storm as well not a sea storm but a storm of pandemic proportion called Covid-19. Let us not let our fear of this pandemic paralyze us. Let us instead call on the Lord for help because the Lord has not forsaken anyone who called upon Him. Like the disciples we too will be saved by the Lord in the midst of this pandemic that we are going through.

We therefore have to remain hopeful and prayerful no matter how dark, disordered and stormy the horizon that appears in front of us.  Because after darkness comes light, after disorder comes order and after the storm comes peace and calm.

Let us therefore not waiver on our faith and let us continue to call upon the Lord. For Help, Strength and Protection for He will surely help us overcome this storm of pandemic proportion called Covid-19. – Marino J. Dasmarinas

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