NINETEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDIARY TIME A

[cappie]

How do we find God in the storms and struggles of our lives, in the trials we encounter in trying to do His will?

God commands Elijah in today’s First Reading to stand on the mountain and await His passing by. And in the Gospel, Jesus makes the disciples set out across the waters to meet Him. In each case, the Lord makes Himself present amid frightening tumult—heavy winds and high waves, fire and earthquakes.

Elijah hides his face in the First Reading. The disciples, likewise, are too terrified to look on the face of God.

Our Gospel  story begins after Jesus miraculously feeds the five thousand with just five loaves of bread and two fish. Following this “Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side.” Then  Jesus retreats to a mountainside to pray. In the midst of their journey, a fierce storm arises, battering their boat and leaving them terrified. In this situation, we see a parallel to the storms of life we all face.

In our own lives, we will often encounter storms - challenges, hardships, and trials that shake us to our core. Yet, amidst these tempests, we must remember that Jesus is never absent. Just as He saw His disciples struggling in the boat, He sees us in the midst of our trials. He is praying for us, interceding on our behalf, and watching over us.

As the storm rages, Jesus approaches the boat, walking on the water. At first, the disciples are terrified, mistaking Him for a ghost. In response, Jesus reassures them, saying, "Courage! It is I. Do not be afraid." Peter, impulsive and eager, responds, " ‘Lord, if it is you, tell me to come to you across the water.’ ."

In Peter's response, we witness an act of faith. He was willing to step out of the boat and walk on water towards Jesus. Faith involves taking bold steps in obedience to Christ, even when circumstances seem impossible. Faith empowers us to defy the laws of nature and embrace the supernatural possibilities of God's presence.

As Peter walked on water, he began to notice the strong wind and became afraid. Doubt crept into his heart, and he started to sink. At this moment, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Jesus immediately reached out His hand and caught him, saying,  ‘Man of little faith, why did you doubt?’ 

Despite Peter's momentary lapse in faith, Jesus was quick to rescue him. This scene reminds us that doubt is a common human experience. We may start with great faith, but when we face challenges, fear can take hold, leading us to doubt God's ability to sustain us. However, like Peter, we can cry out to Jesus, and He will extend His hand to save us from sinking into despair.

As Jesus and Peter returned to the boat, the wind ceased, and the disciples worshiped Jesus, confessing, "Truly you are the Son of God." This experience strengthened their faith, recognizing that Jesus had authority even over the forces of nature. Their doubts were transformed into unwavering belief.

Similarly, when we navigate through life's storms, our faith can grow stronger as we witness the power of Christ in action. We need to continually seek to deepen our relationship with Jesus through prayer, studying the Word, and sharing in the Sacraments of the Church. In doing so, our trust in Him will increase, and we will find courage in the face of adversity.

Today, as we reflect on this Gospel passage, we remember that both faith and doubt are components of our Christian journey.  

Storms will blow up in all of our lives. But Jesus has not left us alone. The one who calms the storms and makes the winds to cease is still with us. He still has work for us to do. And yes, it will mean stepping out in faith, but not getting out of the boat, not going it alone, not leaving the community of disciples. The purpose of a ship is to set sail, not to stay at the dock.

There are plenty of adventures ahead, and Jesus will bid us follow. And he will say to us, in the midst of any storm, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”