Gospel Reflection for the 19th Sunday of Ordinary Time

August 13th – Have faith, do not be afraid.

When we look at the news on our televisions or read about it in our newspapers, we are sometimes overwhelmed by the amount of bad news that we see and read. There are so many countries being torn apart by civil war. Many are suffering because of years of famine; many more are dying daily because of random acts of terrorism. Given the current reality of our world today, we have every reason to be anxious, worried and even more than a little afraid.

In our gospel this Sunday, the disciples find themselves in a small boat in a big storm. They too have every reason to be anxious, worried and afraid. But they are not alone. Out of the darkness comes the person of Jesus walking on the water towards them. Initially, this makes them even more frightened. They think it was a ghost. But Jesus, knowing how they feel, encourages them with the great phrase from scripture, ‘Do not be afraid’. Tradition says that this phrase is used three hundred and sixty five times in the bible.

Each of us in our own daily lives experience pain, difficulties and set – backs. We might call these experiences ‘stormy moments’. They are part of our daily lives and there is no way of ignoring or avoiding them. The question we need to ask ourselves is whether we feel that we are on our own in the storm or whether we feel that Jesus is with us.

The danger is that we think and believe that we can get through our problems and difficulties on our own. This gospel reminds us that we can’t. Like Peter, we too are asked by Jesus to have courage and not to be afraid. We are asked not only to have faith in ourselves, but to also reach out and trust that Jesus will hold us and help us through whatever difficulties we experiencing. Peter started out with great enthusiasm when he stepped out of the boat. He was well on his way to meeting Jesus. But he saw the waves and felt the wind and they got the better of him and he started to sink. As he sinks, he has the courage, wisdom and humility to shout out to Jesus, ‘Lord! Save me!’

When we are struggling and experiencing difficulties, we are asked to do what Peter; we are to ask for help. We can’t manage on our own. Can we make Peter’s prayer ‘Lord, save me? Our own, No matter what we are experiencing, Jesus is with us. He will never abandon us. He has promised to be with us until the end of time, and he will.

• Michael Moore OMI