In today’s Gospel, Peter begins to sink when he takes his eyes off Jesus and looks instead at the storm around him.
How often do we do the same? When difficulties, fears and temptations surround us, we can become so focused on our problems that we forget who is with us.
Jesus does not promise that the storms will never come; he promises to remain with us through them. The Eucharist gives us a constant place to fix our gaze on Christ, truly present among us. When we kneel before the Blessed Sacrament or receive Holy Communion, we renew our trust in him. Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, especially when the waters become rough.
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.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.