Friday 14th August, 2009
ST MAXIMILIAN KOLBE. DAY OF PENANCE. Joshua 24:1-13. His love is everlasting—Ps 135(136):1-3, 16-18, 21-22, 24. Matthew 19:3-12.

  
Meditation: mp3 | podcast
Readings: Text | mp3 | podcast

He came towards them, walking on the sea.

There is just too much to contemplate in this remarkable incident. Whether it actually happened as described or whether Matthew is setting up a tableau for teaching purposes is a matter for scholars to study. However, it relates so closely with life situations in which we can find ourselves that it is worth highlighting the parallels.

Begging letters from Aid agencies are chock full of similar stories: everything has gone wrong; the victims are out on a limb, unable to make headway. Jesus shows himself, but in a manner so unexpected that he is taken for a threat rather than welcomed with love. ‘It is a ghost’, they said and cried out in fear.

With reassurance comes newly found faith that can be presumptious: we can try to become ‘wave walkers’ before our time! But a faith that does not doubt is what we seek.