Nineteenth Sunday Gospel A

Then he made the disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. 

· Is prayer that important in our lives in fact? How often do we imitate Jesus: to take quality time in prayer after expending ourselves for others?

When it was evening he was there alone. Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it.

· When were the times in our lives that we felt tossed and turned in the storms of daily existence?  What was the most recent storm?

 During the fourth watch of the night he came toward them, walking on the sea. 

· The Romans divided the night hours between 6pm and 6am into four equal parts called “watches.” The fourth watch of the night was between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m.

When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. "It is a ghost," they said, and they cried out in fear. 

· If this happened to us, would our response be any different?  What are the “ghosts” that cause us to be afraid?

At once (Jesus) spoke to them, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid."

· “Do not be afraid”: a continual exhortation of Jesus to the disciples and to us. Yet, no matter how often we hear it, we still experience fear.

 Peter said to him in reply, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. 

· Have we experienced a moment of faith like that?

But when he saw how (strong) the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" 

· To take our eyes off Jesus is to allow fear to take over in our lives.

After they got into the boat, the wind died down. Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, "Truly, you are the Son of God." 

· They could say this after the experience. But how soon they would forget. Isn’t that true in our own lives?

· What do we learn from this event and apply in our own lives?