Contemplating today's Gospel
Today's Gospel + homily (in 300 words)
Kindness and truth shall meet; justice and peace shall kiss. Truth shall spring out of the earth, and justice shall look down from heaven.
The Lord himself will give his benefits; our land shall yield its increase. Justice shall walk before him, and prepare the way of his steps.
“Beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’”
Fr. Joaquim MESEGUER García (Rubí, Barcelona, Spain)Today, Peter's experience reflects situations that, more often than not, we also eventually undergo. Who has never, ever felt, at least once, that the world was crumbling around and then decided to let it all go and surrender to despair? Under these circumstances we must revive our faith and exclaim along with the psalmist: “Show us, LORD, your mercy; grant us your salvation” (Ps 85:7).
For the ancient mentality, the sea was where the evil forces dwelt, the kingdom of death, threatening for all people. By “walking on the sea” (cf. Mt 14:25), Jesus is telling us that through his death and resurrection He defeats the powers of evil and death that threaten and seek to destroy us. Is not our existence like a fragile boat, tossed around by the stormy waves of the sea of life with the hope of reaching some meaningful shoreline?
Peter believed he had a clear faith and a rather consistent strength, but “he began to sink” (cf. Mt 14:30); Peter had assured Jesus he was willing to follow him till death, but his own weakness frightened him and, in a fit of passion, he denied his Master thrice. Why does Peter sink just when he starts walking on the water? Because, instead of looking at Jesus’ face, he looks at the sea and, as of that moment, he loses his strength, his confidence in the Lord and he just breaks down. But “Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter” (Mt 14:31) and He saved him.
After His resurrection, the Lord does not let his apostle sink in remorse and despair; rather, with His generous forgiveness, He restores his confidence. In the battle of life, whom do I look at the most? When I feel the weight of my sins and mistakes dragging me down, sinking me, do I allow the good Lord to stretch out His hand and save me?
Thoughts on Today's Gospel
“Prayer also makes time pass very quickly and with such great delight that one does not notice its length” (St. John Mary Vianney)
"The Lord is "up on a mountainside" of the Father: We can always invoke Him” (Benedict XVI)
"In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son" (Heb 1:1-2). Christ, the Son of God made man, is the Father's one, perfect and unsurpassable Word. In him he has said everything; there will be no other word than this one…” (Catechism of the Church Catholic, n. 65)
September 1st
Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)
Gospel and commentary video
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