Readings:
Numbers 12:1-13
Matthew 14:22-36
Reflection:
How many times have we heard and marvelled at this story of Jesus ‘calming the storm’? We have all experienced a terrible storm and felt its awesome strength and power. Then, add this to the sea and all of a sudden, it is amplified; different noises, waves coming in all directions. As the storm rages so the waves grow bigger, and their power washes over, and we are in a short space of time, soaked to the skin.
Vision is difficult, and naturally, one fears for one’s life. On lakes, sudden storms are perilous due to the fact that we can be so easily caught unprepared. I have had this experience of all being calm, and then a change in wind direction and the waves start, and all of a sudden, one is out of their depth.
What powerful imagery for us to ponder; we can easily grasp this ‘storm’ and it correlates to our day-to-day life. We can be all calm, and then the trials and tribulations start to raise their ire, and we can feel fearful of losing our very life. If we focus on Jesus and his promise, then there is a presence we can draw on and live with, taking the time to ponder, trust and hand over. That is more easily said than done.
Today, let us not bicker about who has the promised life, who is the best disciple or follower, and who leads but rather take up the image that we follow in hope, faith and trust that God will indeed deliver us just as he does to the disciples. Peter is a good reminder that we can be all enthusiastic and chanting all sorts of things to God but at the end of the day, our anchor is Jesus – he will hold on to the storms of life and steer us home – we are called to entrust our very lives into his hands. Maybe that is why we can take hope from St John of the Cross when he prays, “I walk in dark and secure”.
Paul Traynor is married to Clare and has two children Sam and Lucy. He lives in Greytown which is in the Wairarapa Region on the North Island of New Zealand. Paul is currently working as the National Passionist Family Groups Coordinator for Aotearoa, New Zealand.