Daily Mass Gospel Reflection - In the Same Boat

Word on Fire Ministry ^ | 8.2.22 | Bishop Robert Barron

[MurphsLaw]

EIGHTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

MATTHEW 14:22–36

Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus comes to his disciples walking on the water.
Whenever we encounter the disciples in a boat,
we are dealing with the Church, the barque of Peter.
Here we see the beginning of the Church’s journey through time.

Winds and waves toss the barque. Anyone acquainted with Church history knows the truth of this—
and it’s a special comfort for those enduring our tumultuous times.
We are engaged in a spiritual warfare, a battle not against flesh and blood
but against powers and principalities.

Early in the morning, the disciples saw Jesus coming toward them, “walking on the sea.”
Terrified, they cried out. But Jesus calmed them with the words,
“Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”
Then Peter said, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”

Peter stands preeminently for the Church across the ages.
And here is the Church at its best, reaching out in confidence to Christ.
The fruit of that confidence is participation in the Lord’s power:
Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.
Relying on our own power, we can do nothing.
But relying on him, we can do anything.

[MurphsLaw]

You shall be my people,
and I will be your God.

+++Jesus made the disciples get into a boat
and precede him to the other side of the sea,
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 him,
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.”

After making the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret.
When the men of that place recognized him,
they sent word to all the surrounding country.

People brought to him all those who were sick
and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak,
and as many as touched it were healed.+++