Tuesday, August 2, 2022

Take courage

Sisters and brothers in Christ, no joke, today's Gospel is how a  typical conversation between me and the Lord goes sometimes.

Jesus: “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”

Me (following St. Peter's example): Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”

Jesus: "Come."

Me: "You mean, right now?" or a little later, "Lord, save me!”

Jesus: “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Yet, Jesus never stops calling me to trust him and follow him. And when I fall, he is right there, stretching out his hand to catch me. God is a loving, merciful Father who will not let us down and always keeps His promises.

. . .

Gospel of the Day

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.

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