FIRST READING
Jeremiah 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.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 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.
ALLELUIA
John 1:49b
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL
Matthew 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.
or:
Matthew 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.”
REFLECTIONS:
Does the Lord seem distant when trials or adversity
come your way? It was at Jesus' initiative that the disciples sailed across
the lake, only to find themselves in a life-threatening storm (see Mark
6:53-56). Although they were experienced fishermen, they feared for their
lives. While Jesus was not with them in the boat, he, nonetheless watched
for them in prayer. When he perceived their trouble he came to them on
the sea and startled them with his sudden appearance. Do you look for the
Lord's presence when you encounter difficulty or challenges?
This dramatic incident on the sea of Galilee revealed Peter's character
more fully than others. Here we see Peter's impulsivity his tendency
to act without thinking of what he was doing. He often failed and came
to grief as a result of his impulsiveness. In contrast, Jesus always bade
his disciples to see how difficult it was to follow him before they set
out on the way he taught them. A great deal of failure in the Christian
life is due to acting on impulse and emotional fervor without counting
the cost. Peter, fortunately in the moment of his failure clutched at Jesus
and held him firmly. Every time Peter fell, he rose again. His failures
only made him love the Lord more deeply and trust him more intently. The
Lord keeps watch over us at all times, and especially in our moments of
temptation and difficulty. Do you rely on the Lord for his strength and
help? Jesus assures us that we have no need of fear if we trust in Him
and in his great love for us. When calamities or trials threaten to overwhelm you, how do you respond? With faith and hope in God's love, care and presence with you?
"Lord Jesus, help me to trust you always and to never doubt your presence
and your power to help me. In my moments of doubt and weakness, may I cling
to you as Peter did. Strengthen my faith that I may walk straight in the
path you set before me, neither veering to the left nor to the right".
No comments:
Post a Comment