The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/080718.cfm) reminds
me that I should always focus on Jesus.
In the
movie Happy Gilmore, the secret of Happy to get him focused and make a good
shot is to think of a happy place. During stressful situations, he would think
of a happy place to help him relax as he prepares for the shot, and it helps
him. This is true as well for Peter Pan, when he says that people should just
think of happy thoughts to be able to fly. In the gospel, we see something
similar.
The
disciples were on a boat when the sea got rough. They probably were not scared
since most of them were fishermen. However, when they saw Jesus on water, they
initially thought he was a ghost. Then when Jesus told them it was him, Peter
asked Jesus to call him to the water. Jesus did, and Peter, full of faith in
Jesus was able to walk on water. However, when he was distracted by the waves,
and probably it sank into him he was walking on water and got worried. Then, he
began to sink. But of course Jesus helped him when Peter cried out.
Keeping
our eyes on Jesus will keep us above the challenges of life
I am
sure we can relate to Peter. Sometimes, especially when we are spiritually high
after a retreat or after experiencing something great from God, we feel we can
do anything with God. Like Peter, we will leave our comfort zone and walk on
water when Jesus tells us. However, sometimes this doesn’t last. When the
spiritual high fades away, when we are back to the daily grind of life, or when
we are faced with life’s challenges, we get scared and lose our focus on God.
Then we cry out to God for help, and he always comes to our rescue.
God’s
power is enough to sustain us. God’s love is so great. We just have to always
focus on Him. We just always have to trust in him, especially when problems
overwhelm us. Yes, situations may seem scary and overwhelming, but they will
only affect us if we focus on them. No problem can weigh us down if we know
that God’s love and power is bigger the these problems. As they say, all the
water in the world cannot sink a ship unless they enter it. We should learn to
keep them outside and focus on God as we face life.
What
is the biggest problem I have right now? How do I feel about it? What am I
doing about it? Do I have faith that God can and will help me, or do I stress
myself out finding out solutions without putting God in the picture? Do i know
that God wants me to just focus on Him and trust him? How can I increase my faith?
May we
be inspired and strengthened to be reminded of God’s love and power in our
lives.
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live.
thank you for another chance to love and serve you. thank you for everything.
Lord, sorry for the times I do not focus in you. Sorry for the times I focus on
the problem. I am sorry for the times I let the water in my life, sorry
for the times I let problems overwhelm and drown me. I ask that you help
me always focus on you. always remind me of your love and power. help me to
always fix my eyes on you and focus on you and not on anyone or anything else.
I know that nothing is too big for you, and your love and power is greater than
any problem or challenge in life. Help me stay afloat and walk above the
water. Amen.
Blessed Day!
In Christ,
-g-
Ps
See related reflection:
August 7, 2018
Tuesday of the Eighteenth Week
in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 408
Lectionary: 408
Reading 1 JER 30:1-2, 12-15, 18-22
The
following message came to Jeremiah from the LORD:
For thus says the LORD, the God of Israel:
Write all the words I have spoken to you in a book.
For thus says the LORD:
Incurable is your wound,
grievous your bruise;
There is none to plead your cause,
no remedy for your running sore,
no healing for you.
All your lovers have forgotten you,
they do not seek you.
I struck you as an enemy would strike,
punished you cruelly;
Why cry out over your wound?
your pain is without relief.
Because of your great guilt,
your numerous sins,
I have done this to you.
Thus says the LORD:
See! I will restore the tents of Jacob,
his dwellings I will pity;
City shall be rebuilt upon hill,
and palace restored as it was.
From them will resound songs of praise,
the laughter of happy men.
I will make them not few, but many;
they will not be tiny, for I will glorify them.
His sons shall be as of old,
his assembly before me shall stand firm;
I will punish all his oppressors.
His leader shall be one of his own,
and his rulers shall come from his kin.
When I summon him, he shall approach me;
how else should one take the deadly risk
of approaching me? says the LORD.
You shall be my people,
and I will be your God.
For thus says the LORD, the God of Israel:
Write all the words I have spoken to you in a book.
For thus says the LORD:
Incurable is your wound,
grievous your bruise;
There is none to plead your cause,
no remedy for your running sore,
no healing for you.
All your lovers have forgotten you,
they do not seek you.
I struck you as an enemy would strike,
punished you cruelly;
Why cry out over your wound?
your pain is without relief.
Because of your great guilt,
your numerous sins,
I have done this to you.
Thus says the LORD:
See! I will restore the tents of Jacob,
his dwellings I will pity;
City shall be rebuilt upon hill,
and palace restored as it was.
From them will resound songs of praise,
the laughter of happy men.
I will make them not few, but many;
they will not be tiny, for I will glorify them.
His sons shall be as of old,
his assembly before me shall stand firm;
I will punish all his oppressors.
His leader shall be one of his own,
and his rulers shall come from his kin.
When I summon him, he shall approach me;
how else should one take the deadly risk
of approaching me? says the LORD.
You shall be my people,
and I will be your God.
Responsorial Psalm PS 102:16-18, 19-21, 29 AND
22-23
R.
(17) The Lord will build up Zion
again, and appear in all his glory.
The nations shall revere your name, O LORD,
and all the kings of the earth your glory,
When the LORD has rebuilt Zion
and appeared in his glory;
When he has regarded the prayer of the destitute,
and not despised their prayer.
R. The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.
Let this be written for the generation to come,
and let his future creatures praise the LORD:
"The LORD looked down from his holy height,
from heaven he beheld the earth,
To hear the groaning of the prisoners,
to release those doomed to die."
R. The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.
The children of your servants shall abide,
and their posterity shall continue in your presence,
That the name of the LORD may be declared on Zion;
and his praise, in Jerusalem,
When the peoples gather together
and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
R. The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.
The nations shall revere your name, O LORD,
and all the kings of the earth your glory,
When the LORD has rebuilt Zion
and appeared in his glory;
When he has regarded the prayer of the destitute,
and not despised their prayer.
R. The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.
Let this be written for the generation to come,
and let his future creatures praise the LORD:
"The LORD looked down from his holy height,
from heaven he beheld the earth,
To hear the groaning of the prisoners,
to release those doomed to die."
R. The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.
The children of your servants shall abide,
and their posterity shall continue in your presence,
That the name of the LORD may be declared on Zion;
and his praise, in Jerusalem,
When the peoples gather together
and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
R. The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.
Alleluia JN 1:49B
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Rabbi, you are the Son of God;
you are the King of Israel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Rabbi, you are the Son of God;
you are the King of Israel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel MT 14:22-36
Jesus
made the disciples get into a boat
and precede him to the other side of the sea,
while he dismissed the crowds.
After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.
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.
During the fourth watch of the night,
he came toward them, walking on the sea.
When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified.
"It is a ghost," they said, and they cried out in fear.
At once Jesus spoke to them, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid."
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.
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?"
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."
After making the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret.
When the men of that place recognized him,
they sent word to all the surrounding country.
People brought to him all those who were sick
and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak,
and as many as touched it were healed.
and precede him to the other side of the sea,
while he dismissed the crowds.
After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.
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.
During the fourth watch of the night,
he came toward them, walking on the sea.
When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified.
"It is a ghost," they said, and they cried out in fear.
At once Jesus spoke to them, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid."
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.
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?"
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."
After making the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret.
When the men of that place recognized him,
they sent word to all the surrounding country.
People brought to him all those who were sick
and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak,
and as many as touched it were healed.
Or: MT 15:1-2, 10-14
Some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said,
"Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders?
They do not wash their hands when they eat a meal."
He summoned the crowd and said to them, "Hear and understand.
It is not what enters one's mouth that defiles the man;
but what comes out of the mouth is what defiles one."
Then his disciples approached and said to him,
"Do you know that the Pharisees took offense
when they heard what you said?"
He said in reply, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted
will be uprooted.
Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind.
If a blind man leads a blind man,
both will fall into a pit.
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