Failing and Faith
Jesus and Peter walk on water
Dear Saints,
First, this week's announcements:
Our weekend Masses are: Saturday 5:15pm in the church; Sunday at 7:30am and 9:00am in the church; Sunday at 9:00am at Walmart; and Sunday at 11:00am (hopefully) outside.
As of now, our Sunday 11:00am Mass will be outside, in front of the church. I will send out a text/email Sunday morning to confirm.
Please be in touch with me if you need anything at all, or with any questions or concerns.
In the Gospel passage proclaimed this weekend, we hear about Jesus' walking on water. This event follows on from his feeding the 5,000.
There's a lot more to the scene than you can see at a glance. Somehow, quite a lot of the context and fuller content was captured in this clip from The Bible (2013):
Jesus Walks on Water
As this scene unfolds - whether you're reading the passage or watching the video - where do you find yourself? What part of it do you find most moving? Let me know, and we can have a little chat about it.
The sequence of Peter's faltering in faith and falling under water is saturated with significance, but not more than the fact that he walks on water! Bold, obedient faith in Jesus - trusting and following him wherever he leads - enables us to do the seemingly impossible.
This is symbolic of Christian life, is it not? Jesus calls us to himself - he calls us to live his way of life that is love all the way through - and the only way we'll make it is if we keep our energy and attention fixed on him.
But let's go deeper here: our failures make us fit for the task!
What if Peter hadn't faltered and failed? Would walking on water have been his success, his achievement? Can we imagine the changes - subtle and otherwise - in the ways he'd go about leading Jesus' flock if he'd have thought he could take on the impossible task alone?
Let's say it: Peter's failure of nearly drowning was more important to his growth than the apparent success of staying afloat. Peter's faltering faith breaks his heart so that he can receive God's love as the undeserved gift that it is, and he can bring that love to life for the deserving and undeserving alike.
Do not be discouraged or deterred, then, my friends. We may face stiff winds these days in our efforts to bring God's love to life, but Jesus is making us fit for the task - in our successes and our failures!
And if you find yourself in special need, make Peter's prayer your own: "Lord, save me!"
I love you, my friends. Let's take the sometimes-walking-on-water and the sometimes-nearly-drowning way together.
Christ's Peace,
Father Daniel
δοῦλος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ
Preparing for Mass?
Check out this weekend's readings:
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Christ and Saint Peter Walking on the Water
Domenico Campagnola, 1500-1564