Today is the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The assigned readings are: 1 Kings 19:9, 11-13; Romans 9:1-5; and Matthew 14:22-33. The Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 85 (Psalm 85:9-14).
The Gospel reading is as follows:
After he had fed the people, Jesus made the disciples get into a boat and precede him to the other side, 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 Peter, 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.”
Reflections related to these readings:
The Deacon's Bench: Homily for August 7, 2011: 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (6 AUG 11)
Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio: Walking on the Water
Dr. Scott Hahn: Sinking Fear (August 7th, 2011 - 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time)
Fr. Scott Hurd: How to Walk on Water (6 AUG 11)
The Lectionary: When our faith begins to falter, we must look to God (4 AUG 11)
Franciscan Media: Sunday Soundbites: Sunday, August 07, 2011 (19th Sunday in Ordinary Time)
In addition, in today’s Daily Ignatian Reflection from the Magis Institute, Father Matthew Monnig, S.J., offers this reflection:
“The first time that I went to confession in Italian, my confessor exhorted me with a simple Italian word, ‘Coraggio!’ Courage! It's the message of Jesus in today's Gospel, slightly less pithy and melodious in English than in Italian: ‘Take courage!’ It's an encouragement that is always timely and needed, helpful to us just as it was for the disciples on the boat, who were fearful of the storm breaking all around them.
“Our courage to face the challenges of life and the demands of holiness has a solid grounding, as is evident from today's Gospel. Jesus' exhortation to courage is not based on mindless optimism that everything will be okay. Rather, he calls them to courage because, ‘It is I.’ Our courage is not in ourselves or in a general hope that things will turn out for the best, but instead comes from Jesus Christ, who is always with us. He is stronger than any storm, natural or spiritual, sovereign over every power, human or demonic. The disciples are struck by this strength and power, take courage from it, and give the fitting response. At the end of the Gospel, they ‘did him homage, saying, 'Truly, you are the Son of God.'’ We have the Son of God with us as savior and companion. We can be courageous not because of some reassuring story, but because the power of Jesus Christ is with us, guiding and protecting us. With Jesus, we can face any storm or force that comes our way.”
(For more information about the Magis Institute, please visit: MAGIS Center for Catholic Spirituality
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