Readings: Numbers 12:1-13; Psalm 51; Matthew 14:22-36
The Gospel presents two faith situations – Peter’s lack of faith, and the faith of sick people who tried to touch the fringe of Jesus’ cloak. It challenges me to reflect on the meaning of faith that has come to mean so many things to so many people. Peter believed Jesus was the Messiah, but at times Peter was distracted from his belief by some situations of life, in this case the storm: think of the crucifixion and Peter’s denial in the courtyard. The crowd believed touching the cloak of Jesus would cure them, but they abandoned Jesus at his crucifixion. Faith is a firm belief that compels us to act consistently with that belief. As Christians we believe in the power of the resurrection, the teaching of Jesus, the power of love, etc. We strive to help rather than hurt, to heal rather than injure. We believe that by following these examples we will create the Kingdom of God on earth, a better world.
The world-wide pandemic, the Indian Residential School discoveries, racial unrest, the evidence that climate change affects our daily lives. There are challenges to many of our faithfully held beliefs – in science, in political, in basic decency, in the ability of nature to nurture us. We can’t seem make it through a week without some issue causing us to stop and evaluate who we are and in what we have faith. There are events that reinforce our faith – the bonding of communities responding to natural disasters, the sharing of food, shelter and medical supplies with those in need. We can find good stories and good people who reinforce our faith.
Peter was shaken by the storm and his betrayal, but he still believed: eventually believed so strongly that he was willing to die for love of the Lord. Crowds abandon true leaders, but they return time and again as they reflect on the power of the message from those who instill faith. We see destructive droughts, wildfires and floods: we also see people taking steps to respond to good thinking on how we can change to reduce our harmful impacts on our precious gift of creation.
I think when we see good people respond in good ways to the challenges we face to our faith, we see the power of the Spirit working through them to remind us that God will give us the strength we need to sustain ourselves, and our world. This is ultimately the message of Jesus – we should love each other as our God loves us. If we can, then our faith will grow. And so, my prayer today is for the grace to be aware of how my faith is being challenged in so many ways, to feel the power of the Spirit in strengthening that faith, and to be grateful. Blessings, Fr. Brian