In the middle of the storm?  “Where is Jesus now that we need him?”

        “Do not be afraid!” for I am with you; The presence of Jesus reassures me,
when I turn my eyes upon God, who is strong even when I am weak.

 

St. Eusebius of Vercelli, bishop

St. Peter Julian Eymard, priest

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Jeremiah 30:1-2, 12-15, 18-22

  This is another word

That came to Jeremiah from Yahweh:  Yahweh, God of Israel says, “Write in a book all that I have communicated to you,  ahweh says, “Your wound is incurable,

your injury is grievous.  here is no one to plead your cause.

There is a remedy for an ulcer but no healing for you!  ll your lovers have forgotten you; they care nothing for you. For I struck you as an enemy does, with a cruel punishment, because of your great guilt and the wickedness of your sin.

 Why cry out now that you are hurt? Is there no cure for your pain? Because of your great crime and grievous sin I have done this to you.

 Yahweh says, “I will restore my peo­ple into Jacob’s tents and have pity on his dwellings. The city will be rebuilt over its ruins and the palace restored on its prop­er place.  rom them will come songs of praise and the sound of merrymaking.

I will multiply them and they shall not be few. I will bestow honor on them and they shall not be despised.  heir children will be as before and their community will be established before me. I will ask their oppressors to account.

 Their leader will be one of themselves, their ruler shall emerge from their midst. I will bring him close to me for who would dare to approach me?  You shall be my people and I shall be your God.”

 

Ps 102:16-18, 19-21, 29 & 22-23

The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.

 

 ＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊  

Matthew 14:22-36(Matthew 15:1-2, 10-14)

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：

Was Peter foolish to have ventured into the waters, while Jesus was anyway coming towards the boat? Weren’t the other disciples more prudent, practical, and sensible?

The only answers I can think of are what St. Paul spoke of the foolishness of the cross vs the wisdom of the world (cf. 1Cor 1:18; 3:19) and the holy madness of the lover who is out there searching for the beloved in the Song of Songs.

 

Despite all his shortcomings, there is no denying that Peter loved the Lord. And when love comes alive and the heart goes out to the Beloved, can the body hold back?

Such an adventure sets Peter up for a unique experience with the Lord, an experience that was denied to the other disciples due to their “safety-first” approach. And Peter would jump out of the boat again, this time with no doubts or care for drowning, when the Risen Lord comes visiting (cf. Jn 21:7),