TEXT: The Gospel according to St. Matthew 14:22-33

This Gospel account today follows the story of the beheading of St. John the Baptist, and, also last Sunday’s Gospel account of the multiplication of the loaves and the fishes.  It speaks of our need and how God meets our needs

My beloved, God is in control, no matter what are the circumstances of life.  God has proven this to me over and over, not because I have demanded proof, but, because God is always faithful to His word and promises.  Even when we have little faith, God brings forth great graces.  Thanks be to God.

22 Then he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.
23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,

Jesus made it His practice to spend many hours in solitary prayer. You and I must not fail to follow His example.

Here, we have the Second  Person of the Holy Trinity making time for talking to His Father.  May we be so derelict to think that we are able to function without prayer?  Here we are within our own circumstances.  Following this particular prayer time  of Jesus, Jesus would show Himself to be above and Lord over all circumstances.

The disciples had done as Jesus told them.  They were doing their part in obedience.

There was a storm.

24 but the boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land,  beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them.
25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea.

It was about 3 in the morning.

Everything was working against the disciples.

The wind was against them, the waves were slamming against the boat.  These were seasoned fishermen.  Yet, their was opposition to their plan to get to the other side.

How often we are opposed by our particular circumstances here upon the seas of life.  The winds are contrary, the waves beat us down, and, we are threatened with drowning.  Like the rivers of water of  (Please see and re-read Revelation 12) that are cast out of the mouth of the dragon, we are beset with what are seemingly overwhelming circumstances wherein we feel we will surely be swallowed up and drowned.

Yet, through ti all, God gives us the vision beforehand that Jesus will be King and His Kingdom will be established visibly upon the earth and Satan will be cast into the abyss and the regnum Christi will be reality for all to see and the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the seas.

Cardinal John Neuman said -- "Circumstances are but the subject-matter, and not the rule of our conduct, nor in any sense the cause of it."  (Oxford University Sermons)

All trials are but a passing circumstance for us, the road we travel with Him and Mother  to the celestial kingdom where Jesus reigns and we shall sin no more.

May we be so bold to believe and act accordingly, for Satan is a defeated foe.

St. John the Baptist was beheaded for his faithfulness, yet, now, he is a saint.

The disciples had no food for the multitude, yet, Jesus took some loaves and little fish and made a great banquet.

Now, the sea rages and the winds are contrary to what we desire, yet, the reign of Christ (regnum Christi) is reality and we are traveling with Jesus and Mary on the road to the full manifestation of that Kingdom eschatologically!

So, now --

26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear.
27 But immediately he spoke to them, saying, "Take heart, it is I; have no fear."

BE NOT AFRAID, said, Pope John Paul II in 1978.

The message is still true and active.

What men may do to us is insignificant.

What Satan may bring to us in physical destruction through disease or terror, is insignificant when we compare it to eternity when we shall sin no more, fully purged of all evil and tendency, only to love God alone for all eternity, free from the trials of this present age.

We are walking between Jesus and Mary, when we are walking with them in the wilderness.  Whatever will come is part of the process of sanctification, that sanctifying grace that comes from God alone.

So, our blessed apostle - pontiff felt this within his soul.

Please note how God takes a little thing and makes it a big thing for His work and purposes.

28 And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water."

Like St. Peter, let us step out in faith, awaiting the command of our Lord.

Jesus answers.

29 He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus;

Yes, upon the water he walked.  He came to Jesus.

The subject-matter was Peter’s circumstances.  His focus was Jesus.  Then, as with all of us, something happened.

30 but when he saw the wind,  he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me."

We must not be too critical of Peter, because we have all done the same thing.

Let us be glad that, like Peter, when we begin to see the wind and waves and that we are sinking in our own strength, we cry out to Jesus to save us!  Many do not even venture to get out of the boat and walk upon the waters.  Let us walk with Jesus, where Jesus is, with confidence.  This is the stuff that saints are made of, walking by faith upon the waters that rage and the winds that blow contrary to what we know to be the call of God to us.

We all have a vocation.

Many within the Church and without it do not understand our vocations as well as God have given the call to us.  Therefore, let us LIVE ABOVE OUR CIRCUMSTANCES WITHIN THE VOCATION WE ARE CALLED BY GOD TO DO!

Let us reach out to Jesus when we falter and not be prideful and think we can do it in our own strength.

For, this is what awaits us -- Divine Mercy reaches out to us.

31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "O man of little faith, why did you doubt?"

Thank God for this man of little faith.
There is hope for every man.  Every man, woman and child may have recourse to the Mercy of God in the ocean of mercy, where God may cause us to live above our circumstances!

Jesus was heading toward the boat.

My beloved, Jesus is coming back to the Boat of  Peter and the wind will cease.

Thy Kingdom Come are not mere words we mouth when we pray the Lord’s prayer.

32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
33  And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

A sixteenth century Catholic, John Heywood, is quoted saying -- "I know, and knew, which way the wind blew and will blow."  (Proverbs 2, 9)

Interestingly, when we take the time to contemplate upon the matter, the wind that blew and blows today will lead us all to the glory of Jesus.

We have this story before us, and we know the ending.  Therefore, we have the vocation now to live entirely for God in God alone with Mary, our Mother, who leads us in the wilderness to that place prepared by God for her.



Deus et Sanctissima.