19th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Getting out of the Boat Mt. 14:22-33

We all want a comfortable life. 

Where the family all gets along;

Work goes well and everyone is healthy. 

But those storms of life blow in and suddenly we find the boat of our life taking on water. 

And we have a choice. 

To stay in the boat and hope it does not sink;

Or to get out of it and walk on the water towards Jesus. 

Eleven disciples chose to stay in the boat. 

Only Peter took the risk to get out of the boat and walk on the water towards Jesus. 

At first it looked like he made a mistake

as he started to sink,

But Jesus stretched out His hand

And saved him. 

When our life becomes “uncomfortable” and the storms of life threaten to sink us. 

We have one of two choices. 

Stay in the boat that we have set sail in on the sea of life

and rely on ourselves and our own resources. 

Or walk on the water towards Jesus. 

And when that time comes,

We have to ask ourselves the same question Peter asked himself. 

“Where does my trust lie,

In my boat or in Jesus?”

The Transfiguration

Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem with His disciples 
where He would be rejected by the religious leaders, 
And scourged, and crucified by the Romans. 
And buried in a borrowed grave. 

And His disciples needed to be reassured. 

So that when this all happened,

They would still believe He was Divine. 

So on Mount Tabor Jesus 

revealed His Divine glory to His disciples. 

So that when they saw Him betrayed in the Garden;

Scourged and crowned with thorns. 

Carry His cross to Calvary and die on it. 

And be buried in a tomb;

They would not despair or doubt,

Because suffering can cause us to doubt and lose faith

And the transfiguration reminds us not to despair when we face the cross and suffering.

that All of our sorrows and sufferings will be transformed. 

Into something so glorious that we will never be able to remember them;

Not even for a second.