Discernment and Turbulent Waters

Discernment and Turbulent Waters:   In today’s Gospel, Matthew 14: 22-36, the disciples are out on the sea, buffeted by strong winds.  Jesus had stayed ashore to dismiss the crowd of about 5000 men plus all of the women and children that they had just fed.   “During the fourth watch of the night  [around 3:00 in the morning][Jesus] came toward them, walking on the sea.”  The disciples are terrified, thinking that they are seeing a ghost walking toward the boat.  Jesus, aware of their fright, says to them: “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”  Peter says to Him: “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” Jesus says: “Come.”  So Peter begins to walk on the turbulent water toward Jesus and as the winds whip around him, he becomes frightened, takes his eyes off Jesus and begins to sink.  “’Lord, save me!’ Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him,” saying “O, you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

“If it is you, command me to come to you,”  Peter says to the Lord.  Peter gets out of the boat and begins to walk on the water. “Is he crazy,” we may ask!  “What’s he thinking? He is not capable of walking on water,”   we proclaim.  When you and I are contemplating something which we believe God is asking of us, like Peter, we may courageously step out into the turbulent waters because we believe that the Lord has called us, as He did Peter: “Come”  Jesus says to Peter when Peter says to Him: “If it is you, Lord, command me to come to you on the water.”  It’s like saying: “If it is you, Lord, calling me to remain single, to enter religious life, to study for the priesthood, to marry this woman/this man, bit me do so.”  “If it is you asking me to do such and such, bit me, Lord, to do it with courage and with faith.” Then the waves of criticism rise and we may get scared, begin to sink in our resolve. “Save me, Lord.” And immediately, Jesus reaches out His hand and walks with us to accomplish that of which, on our own, we are not capable!

Come, follow Me

In today’s Gospel, Mark 10: 17-27, a young man runs up to Jesus and says: “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”  Jesus tells him to keep the commandments. The young man assures Jesus that he has done that his entire life. “Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, ‘You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’” The man walks away from Jesus sad; he is not ready to follow Jesus in that way. Jesus looks around at his disciples and says: “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the Kingdom of God!”   

Are you struggling with letting go of the one thing that keeps you from responding to Jesus’ invitation to follow Him? What is that “one thing”  that holds you back from taking that next step in realizing the vocation to which God is calling you:  to embracing the demands of marriage, of committing yourself to a life’s partner, to accepting the call to religious life or priesthood or the single lifestyle?  Ask Jesus to show you what it is that you lack, that you need, in order to move forward in the realization of your vocation in life.  Take the time you need in prayer: spend time before the Blessed Sacrament, in the solitude of your room, in the quiet of nature, seeking the answer to that question.

Be not afraid. Jesus, also, looks at you with a deep love. Gaze upon Him as He gazes upon you! He holds sacred the answer you need to face! May you have the courage to listen for that answer!