Jesus said to them,"Courage! Don't be afraid. it's me!"  

Peter distracted by the strong wind, he begins to sink, and cries out "Lord, save me!"

Jesus catches him and labels him as having "little faith" for doubting.

Jesus asked Peter,"Why did you doubt?"

he shifted his attention to the threatening circumstances and fear displaced that trust.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

1 Kings 19:9a, 11-13a

On reaching the place,

He came to the cave and stayed in it. Then the word of the Lord came to him,

"What are you doing here, Elijah?" Then the Lord said, "Go up and stand on the mount,

waiting for the Lord." And the Lord passed by. There was first a windstorm,

wild wind which rent the mountains and broke the rocks into pieces before the Lord,

 

but the Lord was not in the wind. After the storm, an earthquake,

but the Lord was not in the earthquake; after the earthquake, a fire,

but the Lord was not in the fire; after the fire, the murmur of a gentle breeze.

When Elijah perceived it, he covered his face with his cloak,

went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.

 

Ps 85:9-10, 11-12, 13-14(8)

Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.

 

＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

Romans 9:1-5

I tell you, sincerely, in Christ, and my conscience assures me in the Holy Spirit,

that I am not lying: I have great sadness and constant anguish for the Jews.

I would even desire that I myself suffer the curse of being cut off from Christ instead of my brethren:

I mean, my own people, my kin. They are Israelites, whom God adopted, and on them rests his glory.

Theirs are the Covenants, the law, the worship and the promises of God.

They are descendants of the patriarchs, and from their race, Christ was born,

he, who, as God, is above all distinctions. Blessed be He forever and ever: Amen!

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

Matthew 14:22-33

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 sea. 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 on the water." Jesus said to him, "Come!"

And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water to go to Jesus.

But seeing the strong wind, he was afraid, and began to sink; and 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!"

 

Lectio Divina

 

Gospel Reflection ：

Do not be afraid.

 

Read: The prophet Elijah escaped the wrath of Jezebel, the queen, who sought to kill him.

He lamented to God that the Israelites had forsaken their covenant with Him.

In this reading, God appeared to Elijah in the murmur of a gentle breeze,

instructing him to return to his work. In the second reading,

Paul expressed grief over the unbelief of his people, the Israelites.

In the gospel, the Lord appeared to the disciples who faced a storm on the lake,

telling them, "Do not be afraid; it is I."

 

Reflect: In our life journey, the focus of our gaze must always be Jesus,

especially when problems and the storms of life come.

The gospel story reminds us that Jesus is there for us, journeying with us.

Even in his silence or seeming absence, when he does not answer our prayers,

He is still there and does not abandon us. When we find our faith weakening,

we need to call Jesus. When we think we are already sinking,

we only have to hold out our hands and allow Jesus to take them and bring us up.

Let us always remember the Lord's voice: "Do not be afraid."

 

Pray: Lord, please assure me of your presence when life's storms come, especially when I feel like a failure.

 

Act: Help a friend who is facing difficulties in life.