19th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (A)

But when Peter saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Mt 14:22-33

Sunday reflections will be irregular till sometime mid-September as I am away from my home base.

After doing so, he (Jesus) went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone.

We can pray anywhere because God is everywhere. We can pray anytime because God is always present to us. Yet there are some occasions when we need to find a time and a place where we can meet God in a more intense and intimate manner. For Jesus he had to be alone and it had to be either in the evening or early in morning. A college student I knew woke up earlier than everyone else in the house so that he could pray.

Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it.

Rowing the boat against the waves and the wind. This is the image that comes to my mind of someone who feels that everything seems to be against him. St. John Bosco felt called to the priesthood as a young boy. At the time it seemed an impossible dream. The odds were stacked against him. Not only was his stepbrother against his getting an education. He also belonged to a poor peasant family.

During the fourth watch of the night, he (Jesus) came toward them walking on the sea.... At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”

Panday was a metalsmith whose name was Flavio. One night, a meteor (bulalakaw) fell from the sky. He used the metal from the meteor to fashion a dagger and a churchbell. The dagger would magically grow to become a sword when he raised it up and pointed it to the sky. He used this to battle the Sombra Oscura, the minions of evil, who repeatedly beset the town, eventually slaying their leader, Lizardo, the "Son of the Devil".

Superheroes like Panday come to the rescue of those who are in danger. That´s why they are so popular and well-loved. And that´s why movies of superheroes are box-office hits. But they are fiction.

Jesus is not fiction. He is not a superhero. He is savior. He does not only save us from our sins. He also comes to our aid. It is well to keep in mind the reassuring words of Jesus, "Take courage. It is I. Do not be afraid."

Bravery does not mean knowing no fear. It means not allowing oneself to be mastered by fear. It is the presence of Jesus that enables us to act in spite of the fear that we feel.

An OFW I got to know in Italy said that her first stint as an OFW was in Saudi Arabia. She said that when she left the Philippines for the first time she felt fear. But she placed herself in God´s hands.

When fear threatens to overpower us, let us remember the words of Jesus, "Take courage. It is I. Do not be afraid."

But when he (Peter) saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”

I have an acquaintance who is afraid of heights. He joined a hike to Mt. Batulao. At a certain portion of the hike, they had to make a steep climb. He admitted that he was afraid of heights. So he was told not to look down but to look up as he made the climb. He did as he was told and was rewarded with a marvelous view on top of the mountain.

Someone observed that Peter got frightened because instead of keeping his eyes fixed on Jesus he turned his gaze on the waves.

Sometimes the going gets tough. Sometimes people and events come that instills fear in us. Keep you eyes fixed on Jesus. Keep Jesus in mind. And when fear takes hold of us, let us cry out as Peter cried out, "Lord, save me!"