Daily Gospel Reflection
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August 9, 2020
Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them.
And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”
Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”
He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
About 13 years ago, my life was in the throes of a tempest of my own making. A series of bad decisions fueled by the fire of self-absorption had landed me in my own boat of isolation, tossed about by the consequences of sin. But God conspired to create the perfect storm of conversion, if only I would be willing to jump out of my sinking boat. The beautiful irony is that this drama was literally playing out on the Sea of Galilee. Along with my wife and an intimate group of family and friends, I was on a boat in the middle of the Sea of Tiberius when this particular passage was read aloud. I reached into my pocket and read aloud from a key chain engraved with the Suscipe prayer of St. Ignatius: “Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty…’ Like Peter, I heard the call of Jesus to get out of the boat and place my trust in the one who would calm the storms of my life.
Peter’s initial trust was quickly replaced by fear and he began to sink. Yet, instead of turning back to the boat, Peter called out to Christ, who extended his saving hand. Conversion is no different: the initial fervor to follow Christ is assailed by doubt and longing to return to the way things were before. We are tempted to crawl back into the boat of our prior lives even if it is on the verge of sinking into the abyss. But Jesus extends his hand of love. He does not haul us in by the collar. He respects our freedom, waiting patiently for us to respond to his invitation. Such a simple thing to do—reach out and grasp the hand of the only one who can keep us from drowning.
Prayer
Lord, we have all experienced sinking, have called out to the Savior for forgiveness, for courage, for helping grace. Let my heart trust in you always, and I shall thank you all my life.
Saint of the Day
St. Edith Stein was a brilliant philosopher who came to the Catholic faith through her intellectual pursuit of the truth.
She was born to a large Jewish family in Poland in 1891, and was an extraordinary student. She earned her doctorate in philosophy at the age of 25, and it was the witness of some of her friends that initially invited her to consider the Christian faith. She saw the strength of their faith, and began studying the Catholic tradition. She converted, and later became a Carmelite nun and taught in European universities as a member of the intellectual elite.
Her order relocated her to a convent in Holland because of her Jewish heritage, but she was eventually hunted down by the Nazis and was killed in a gas chamber in Auschwitz in 1942.
St. Edith Stein is the patron saint of Europe. Her story and image are used by high school students who come to campus for a summer conference with the Notre Dame Vision program.
St. Edith Stein, who searched for truth in philosophy and found Catholicism before being killed by Nazis—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Edith Stein is an illustration by Julie Lonneman, who holds exclusive rights to the further distribution and publication of her art. Used with permission.