From: John 6:16-21

Jesus Walks on the Water

[16] When evening came, His (Jesus’) disciples went down to the sea, [17] got
into the boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and
Jesus had not yet come to them. [18] The sea rose because a strong wind was
blowing. [19] When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus
walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat. They were frightened, [20] but
He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” [21] Then they were glad to take Him
into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

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Commentary:

16-21. It seems the disciples were disconcerted because darkness had fallen,
the sea was getting rough and Jesus had still not appeared. But our Lord does
not abandon them; when they had been rowing for some five kilometers (three
miles), He arrives unexpectedly, walking on the water—to strengthen their faith,
which was still weak.

In meditating on this episode Christian tradition has seen the boat as symbolizing
the Church, which will have to cope with many difficulties and which our Lord has
promised to help all through the centuries (cf. Matthew 28:20); the Church, there-
fore, will always remain firm. St. Thomas Aquinas comments: “The wind symboli-
zes the temptations and persecution the Church will suffer due to lack of love. For,
as St. Augustine says, when love grows cold, the sea become rougher and the
boat begins to founder. Yet the wind, the storm, the waves and the darkness will
fail to put it off course and wreck it” (”Commentary on St. John, in loc.”).

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Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

Mass Readings

First reading	Acts 6:1-7 ©

About this time, when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenists made a complaint against the Hebrews: in the daily distribution their own widows were being overlooked. So the Twelve called a full meeting of the disciples and addressed them, ‘It would not be right for us to neglect the word of God so as to give out food; you, brothers, must select from among yourselves seven men of good reputation, filled with the Spirit and with wisdom; we will hand over this duty to them, and continue to devote ourselves to prayer and to the service of the word.’ The whole assembly approved of this proposal and elected Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus of Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

The word of the Lord continued to spread: the number of disciples in Jerusalem was greatly increased, and a large group of priests made their submission to the faith.

Psalm	Psalm 32:1-2,4-5,18-19 ©

May your love be upon us, O Lord, as we place all our hope in you.

Alleluia!

Ring out your joy to the Lord, O you just;

for praise is fitting for loyal hearts.

Give thanks to the Lord upon the harp,

with a ten-stringed lute sing him songs.

May your love be upon us, O Lord, as we place all our hope in you.

Alleluia!

For the word of the Lord is faithful

and all his works to be trusted.

The Lord loves justice and right

and fills the earth with his love.

May your love be upon us, O Lord, as we place all our hope in you.

Alleluia!

The Lord looks on those who revere him,

on those who hope in his love,

to rescue their souls from death,

to keep them alive in famine.

May your love be upon us, O Lord, as we place all our hope in you.

Alleluia!

Gospel Acclamation	Rm6:9

Alleluia, alleluia!

Christ, having been raised from the dead, will never die again.

Death has no power over him any more.

Alleluia!

Or

Alleluia, alleluia!

Christ has risen, he who created all things,

and has granted his mercy to men.

Alleluia!

Gospel	John 6:16-21 ©

In the evening the disciples went down to the shore of the lake and got into a boat to make for Capernaum on the other side of the lake. It was getting dark by now and Jesus had still not rejoined them. The wind was strong, and the sea was getting rough. They had rowed three or four miles when they saw Jesus walking on the lake and coming towards the boat. This frightened them, but he said, ‘It is I. Do not be afraid.’ They were for taking him into the boat, but in no time it reached the shore at the place they were making for.