Lord, save me!

Sisters and brothers in Christ, today is the Optional Memorial of Dedication of the Basilicas of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles.

It is a reminder, in a very concrete way, to us that our Catholic faith is built on apostolic tradition. This means that we can trace our beliefs as faithful people of God all the way back to the apostles who walked with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ during his time on earth. Our faith not only transcendent but also in space and time. God, who is outside of space and time, enters into space and time, took on our physical attributes as human beings, and, in doing so, raises our humanity into his divinity.

This is the Good News which, like it did for the apostles in today's Gospel reading for the memorial (Matthew 14:22-33), should cause us to pause and exclaim with great rejoicing: "Truly, you are the Son of God." This is faith in God that was instilled in us at our Baptism, sealed at our Confirmation, and nourished each time we receive our Lord in the Eucharist during Mass. We experience God's mercy in Confession and receive healing when we are anointed.

Yet, we still "doubt" our Lord and our God as Peter did. When we take our eyes of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and doubt God's love, mercy, and forgiveness (even His existence), we start to sink and drown in our own ocean of temporal desires. Thankfully for us, Jesus is ways there, ready to stretch out his hand and save us when we turn to him with a humble and contrite heart, crying out: "Lord, save me!"

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Gospel of the Day - Optional Memorial of Dedication of the Basilicas of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

After the crowd had eaten their fill,

Jesus made the disciples get into the boat

and precede him to the other side,

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."