NINETEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY –12th /13th AUGUST 2023

Dear Parishioners,

Today’s gospel describes how Jesus walks on water to meet his frightened disciples, and how Peter actually joins him for a moment. What can this Word of God say to us today?

I remember once someone saying to me, that they did not believe this passage, and I asked ‘why not?’ and they replied, ‘Well, it is a bit of showy miracle, not like the miracles that cure people, they show God’s compassion, but walking on water? It seems to show Jesus showing off, doing a sort of party trick…!’ I had not thought of it like, but as Jesus’ walking on water always seems to speak a lot about faith, being able to keep walking even when things seem very uncertain. That is why I never saw this as ‘showing off’ but more of sign of what we are invited to live, to live by faith in the face of uncertainties.  

It is also interesting to realise that although for us the sea might seem to be something beautiful, when summer comes people want to go to the beach, but according to Jewish thought at the time of Jesus, the sea had quite a negative image. The sea is destructive, dangerous, a symbol of evil and chaos. So, Jesus’ walking on the sea, is also saying something very profound, that God is stronger than the evil and the chaos, and a sign to the disciples that Jesus really is God. At the moment, there are many signs of chaos in the world, which can leave us feeling unsettled and anxious; the different wars around the world, the worsening climate change that is already causing so much suffering, the rising costs of living. Jesus is wanting to give us hope in this reading, however messy the situations, both our own and of the world around us, Jesus is there, walking forward, showing us that we are not alone and there will be a way through.

Sometimes our faith feels very fragile, and like the disciples we do not recognise the hope that Jesus wants to give us. They cry out in fear thinking that he is a ghost, but he replies to them, ‘Courage! It is I! Do not be afraid!’ Peter as ever is an encouraging example for us, he does walk towards Jesus on the water for a moment, but then the wind scares him and his fears become stronger than his faith, and he begins to sink. But as soon as he cries for help Jesus is holding him safe. Trusting in God’s hope is a journey not an instant solution. But Jesus is always with us, helping us to walk on the water of life’s challenges. 

Sr Catherine Cruz