Testing---the waters8/2/2022 Tuesday of the 18th Week in Ordinary Time
Many times I have posed the question in preaching and in writing these reflections, “Is life a test or a gift?” If you answer that it’s a test, it drives you to perfection, to getting good grades, to proving your mettle. You want at all costs to “pass the test.” If you answer that it’s a gift, you trust that everything, even the difficult times in your life are meant to be accepted with grace and gratitude. That’s easier said than done! When you are living through storms and you are battered by the driving rain and winds and turbulent seas, it’s a challenge to believe that life is a gift. I chose the title “testing—the water” because today’s Gospel recounts the disciples’ fearing for their lives and safety in the storm in the middle of the night. They are being battered by the forces of nature. They do not recognize Jesus at first but somehow in the howling winds they hear his voice say “Take heart, don’t be afraid, it is I” In Matthew’s version, Peter tests the waters and begins to walk, but he is put to the test and his faith in Jesus waivers. He feels himself drowning until the hand of Jesus pulls him up to safety. In my own prayer with this passage this morning, I began to sink into the deep waters of doubt and trust, even hearing Jesus say, “O you of little faith! Why did you doubt?” My response was “Because I have been in these stormy waters before and I almost drowned. You can only trust so much when you’ve been buffeted by cruel and relentless forces, especially those of the “unhuman kind.” Jesus’ response was “You can say that again!” I’m sharing again the poem “Be Still!” I wrote it when this Gospel appeared for the 19th Sunday of Ordinary Time. The first reading was Elijah’s encounter with the “still, small voice” outside the cave. It also makes allusion to the explosion in the harbor of Beirut, Lebanon on August 4th, 2020. Is life a test? Is life a gift? I suppose it depends on the day. One of my regrets for the 30 day retreatants was they didn't experience the "special effects" of a Gloucester Ocean storm. One of those nor'easters really helps people enter into prayer with a Gospel passage like the one today. Every day the sea was calm and tranquil. Oh that life were like that!
2 Comments
Judith R Schiavo
8/2/2022 06:56:37 am
What Father Bob posed today is life. Hanging on to the hope that God is with us every crucial step of the way is faith. What we beg for is God's love.
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Marie James
8/2/2022 07:51:00 am
Each time we are in one of these places I believe God waits for us to catch up to his mindset. Life's sorrows can make us doubt or gain confidence in the one who loves us more than we can imagine. In the end if we have become more compassionate, we have indeed become more like God wants us to be. After all we do follow a crucified savior. Prayers for strength and peace!
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Leave a Reply.AuthorAs an ordained Catholic priest for 45 years and a member of the Jesuits for 57 years, I've had a great deal of "spiritual" experience! This is a place where I can continue to share my thoughts about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and what it means to live the "mystery of God." Categories |