＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Jeremiah 28:1-17

 

Ps 119:29, 43, 79, 80, 95, 102

Lord, teach me your statutes.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Matthew 14:22-36

Immediately Jesus obliged his disciples to get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he sent the crowd away.  And having sent the people away, he went up the moun­tain by himself to pray. At nightfall, he was there alone. Meanwhile, the boat was very far from land, dangerously rocked by the waves for the wind was against it.

At daybreak, Jesus came to them walking on the lake. When they saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, thinking that it was a ghost. And they cried out in fear. But at once Jesus said to them, “Courage! Don’t be afraid. It’s me!” Peter answered, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you walking on the water.”

 Jesus said to him, “Come.” And Peter got out of the boat, walking on the water to go to Jesus. But, in face of the strong wind, he was afraid and began to sink. So he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately stret­ched out his hand and took hold of him, saying, “Man of little faith, why did you doubt?”

 As they got into the boat, the wind drop­ped. Then those in the boat bowed down be­­fore Jesus saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God!”

 They came ashore at Gennesareth. The local people recognized Jesus and spread the news throughout the region. So they brought all the sick to him, begging him to let them touch just the fringe of his cloak. All who touched it became perfectly well.

  

Gospel Reflection：

When doctors say our illness is under control, we are so relieved. But when doctors tell us that God is the only resort left, we get terrified. Between the doctor and God, we feel safer with human competence.

It is not that we distrust God. it is because we are overpowered more by the uncertainty of our condition. We are afraid of something we cannot measure or predict when the doctor assures there is something he can do, it means, nothing is mysterious in our illness.

It is within human procedure, something we can check. It scares us when things are left to God for we cannot check what is in His mind. Peter’s sinking is caused not by his distrust in Jesus but because he allows the water to overpower him. He focused more on the water’s depth and chaos than on Jesus’ power over it.