Contributor
Choose Courage, Choose Jesus
The Gospel of Matthew 14:22–33
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.”
Courage and Faith go hand in hand.
Choosing to be brave is also choosing to believe and when you choose to believe, you must focus to look at the face of the one you believe.
In the Gospel, Peter focused his attention on the storm instead of looking at Jesus who could weather that storm.
Jesus told the disciples to take courage, to be brave, still Peter did not listen.
This Gospel narrative is a reflection of our daily struggles of facing our own challenges. More often than not, we focus on the storm, we focus on the hardships, we forget to look at the face of Jesus who does not stop to tell us, “Take courage, it is I, Come…”
May this Gospel reading help us to take courage in facing the storms in our lives, in choosing to be brave, and may we never waver to focus on Jesus.
Ave Maria!
