Key Message:
Desire to fulfil all that God desires for you!!
Homily:
When Thomas Aquinas’ sister Theodora asked him how to become a Saint, he replied “Velle,” which means simply “Resolve” or “Will it” or “Desire”.
In today’s Gospel reading we find all the Apostles were in the boat, but only Peter was able to walk on water. The sea was so big to allow all the disciples to walk on water. Our Lord Jesus was capable of supporting everyone to walk on water. Like Peter they were also thrilled to see our Lord Jesus walking on water. There was nothing stopping the other Apostles. But they did not have the desire or the resolution that they too should walk on water.
Like the open sea, our Lord provides us lots of opportunities. Many times, we become complacent and comfortable in our own little boat. We just keep sitting in our own comfortable little boat and do not look forward to the huge plans our God has planned for us.
When the Apostles were alone (after the resurrection of our Lord Jesus,) Peter said, “I am going fishing”. Immediately the rest of the others followed. But when Peter walked on water, none of the other Apostles attempted to do the same. When things are easy, we are fine to make a change, even without waiting to find if it is God’s will. But when they require courage and faith, even though we know that it is the will of God, we tend to escape like Jonah in the opposite direction.
The Apostle Peter asked our Lord, “Lord, if it is You, order me to come to You”. Only after our Lord Jesus agreed by saying “Come”, Peter took the first step.
When we venture for new things, we need to check with our God by praying to Him. We all may not be able to hear the silent voice saying “Yes”, but we will be able to gauge if it is according to God’s plan if there is peace within us. God will give us peace in our hearts, if His answer is a “Yes”.
Sometimes after taking the first steps cheerfully, we get frightened because of the unprecedented challenges that come along our way. When we fear, we tend to sink. But then we should remember that our Lord is also with us. He does not stop the challenges but helps us to overcome them.
Yesterday I visited two families, both with sick persons. Under the same circumstances, one family was happy and the other family was very sad. The sad family was filled with self-pity, and complaining about others. The happy family was filled with gratitude towards God and others. They were recalling how God was helping them and how others helped them like Angels. They were filled with faith. They said, “We know that our Lord Jesus is always with us. So, He will take care of us”.
Under the same wave conditions, one family was drowning, another family was still walking on water. It is not the challenges that matter, it is how we react to them that matters. We can overcome the challenges by seeing the face of our Lord Jesus.
Am Rev Fr Edwin DeMarie Mumukom, CMF, Claretian missionary (Roman Catholic priest) from Cameroon and working in Cameroon. I really do appreciate your reflections. I just stumbled on them once I was looking for material to prepare my homilies and since then I’ve always come to them daily. Thanks and keep up this great work. It’s helping me particularly spiritually and am learning your style of homiletics.
Key Message:
Desire to fulfil all that God desires for you!!
Homily:
When Thomas Aquinas’ sister Theodora asked him how to become a Saint, he replied “Velle,” which means simply “Resolve” or “Will it” or “Desire”.
In today’s Gospel reading we find all the Apostles were in the boat, but only Peter was able to walk on water. The sea was so big to allow all the disciples to walk on water. Our Lord Jesus was capable of supporting everyone to walk on water. Like Peter they were also thrilled to see our Lord Jesus walking on water. There was nothing stopping the other Apostles. But they did not have the desire or the resolution that they too should walk on water.
Like the open sea, our Lord provides us lots of opportunities. Many times, we become complacent and comfortable in our own little boat. We just keep sitting in our own comfortable little boat and do not look forward to the huge plans our God has planned for us.
When the Apostles were alone (after the resurrection of our Lord Jesus,) Peter said, “I am going fishing”. Immediately the rest of the others followed. But when Peter walked on water, none of the other Apostles attempted to do the same. When things are easy, we are fine to make a change, even without waiting to find if it is God’s will. But when they require courage and faith, even though we know that it is the will of God, we tend to escape like Jonah in the opposite direction.
The Apostle Peter asked our Lord, “Lord, if it is You, order me to come to You”. Only after our Lord Jesus agreed by saying “Come”, Peter took the first step.
When we venture for new things, we need to check with our God by praying to Him. We all may not be able to hear the silent voice saying “Yes”, but we will be able to gauge if it is according to God’s plan if there is peace within us. God will give us peace in our hearts, if His answer is a “Yes”.
Sometimes after taking the first steps cheerfully, we get frightened because of the unprecedented challenges that come along our way. When we fear, we tend to sink. But then we should remember that our Lord is also with us. He does not stop the challenges but helps us to overcome them.
Yesterday I visited two families, both with sick persons. Under the same circumstances, one family was happy and the other family was very sad. The sad family was filled with self-pity, and complaining about others. The happy family was filled with gratitude towards God and others. They were recalling how God was helping them and how others helped them like Angels. They were filled with faith. They said, “We know that our Lord Jesus is always with us. So, He will take care of us”.
Under the same wave conditions, one family was drowning, another family was still walking on water.
It is not the challenges that matter, it is how we react to them that matters. We can overcome the challenges by seeing the face of our Lord Jesus.
Am Rev Fr Edwin DeMarie Mumukom, CMF, Claretian missionary (Roman Catholic priest) from Cameroon and working in Cameroon. I really do appreciate your reflections. I just stumbled on them once I was looking for material to prepare my homilies and since then I’ve always come to them daily. Thanks and keep up this great work. It’s helping me particularly spiritually and am learning your style of homiletics.