Jessel Pradeep Cutinha csc –
Readings: Jer 30:1-2, 12-15, 18-22; Mt 14:22-36
Today’s Gospel Reading teaches me two lessons: make room for God and keep focus on Jesus. In spite of his busy day, Jesus goes to pray.
This is a lesson for me to keep aside my daily work and assignments to make room for Jesus in my life. This will enable me to recognize Jesus. Prayer is to have communion and communication with God. Prayer is to better our relationship with him.
Today’s Gospel tells us that even after being with Jesus, the disciples failed to recognize him. Therefore, if we are people of prayer, if we have a personal interaction with Jesus it will help us to recognize Jesus at all times: both in times of joy and in times of sorrow.
It is not enough that we pray and communicate with Jesus, it is also important for us to be focused on him. If our focus is on Jesus it is also sure that he will look after us no matter what waves and winds are around us, and what difficult circumstances we go through in life. If we cry out to Jesus in faith, he will hold us by hand and save us.
There are times we fail to pray and lose our focus on Christ. This is when we feel that we are sinking like Peter. Then we are called to have faith in Jesus and regain our focus. God will never fail to hold our hand. This same assurance is also found in today’s first reading. Prophet Jeremiah
says that God has declared us as his people.
Therefore, his compassion will help us to rebuild our relationship with him. His love will help us to
be connected to him. He will make us great because he is our God. But the question to ponder is: where is my focus? Is it on God or the waves and winds that are around me? When I am down, whom do I trust? Is it God or my own abilities?