August 13, 2023 Reflection
Walking on the water of Life with Faith
Overall, this Sunday’s Gospel from Matthew 14:22-33 encourages us to anchor our faith in Christ, face challenges with trust, seek solitude in prayer, confront our doubts, and obey God’s guidance even when it leads us into uncertain waters. We can draw the following lessons:
- Faith and Trust: The disciples’ struggle against the storm reflects the challenges we face in life. Jesus’ walking on water shows his divine power over nature, urging us to trust in his ability to guide us through difficulties.
- Solitude and Prayer: Jesus retreating to the mountain to pray emphasizes the importance of spending time alone with God. It highlights the need for introspection, communion, and seeking divine guidance in our lives.
- Fear and Doubt: The disciples’ fear upon seeing Jesus on the water illustrates how human emotions can sway our faith. Like Peter, we might doubt or lose focus when faced with the extraordinary. But when Peter’s faith wavered, he began to sink, reminding us of the need to keep our focus on Christ amidst life’s storms.
- Divine Intervention: Jesus immediately stretched out his hand to save Peter. This highlights how God’s grace is readily available in our moments of need. It’s a reminder that even when our faith falters, God is there to lift us up.
- Lessons in Obedience: The disciples’ obedience to Jesus’ command to get into the boat suggests that following Christ sometimes means stepping into the unknown. Their obedience led to witnessing a miraculous event and strengthened their understanding of Jesus’ divine nature.
