He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. – Matthew 14:29

       Myrna was drowning when she saw Jesus at the end of the pool just watching her. She shouted, “Why aren’t You helping me?” Jesus replied, “Because I know you know how to swim.” And then Myrna woke up from her dream.

       It was a friend’s dream that saved me from turning my back on God. I left my corporate job to have more time to serve in ministry. To sustain myself financially, I took online jobs. It paid me well until I lost clients because of an over-supply of online freelancers.

      I questioned God, “Is this how You bless me after deciding to serve You more?” I stopped praying. God became just a concept. But God sent Myrna to tell me about her dream. And then I knew He was asking me to leave my current boat and walk on water again, for He has already equipped me for the call He gave me.

       Now I am an events host and singer. I get to do what I love, and most of all, I get to serve Him more.

     What’s your boat? Is He asking you to leave your boat and walk on water? Veia Lim (veiallim@gmail.com)

Jesus, give me the faith and courage to walk on water. I believe Your hands will hold me when I let go.

St. Dominic, priest, pray for us.

It seems that rivalry is part of the human condition of sin. We can even see it in the lives of some saints. Our focus should be in giving all the glory to the Lord and not keeping it for ourselves, which is where rivalry ultimately leads us. The antidote to this temptation is surrender and humility. This is often the answer to the struggles of a Christian.

1 Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses on the pretext of the marriage he had contracted with a Cushite woman. 2 They complained, “Is it through Moses alone that the Lord speaks? Does he not speak through us also?” And the Lord heard this. 3 Now, Moses himself was by far the meekest man on the face of the earth. 4 So at once the Lord said to Moses and Aaron and Miriam, “Come out, you three, to the meeting tent.” And the three of them went. 5 Then the Lord came down in the column of cloud, and standing at the entrance of the tent, called Aaron and Miriam. When both came forward, 6 he said, “Now listen to the words of the Lord: Should there be a prophet among you, in visions will I reveal myself to him, in dreams will I speak to him; 7 not so with my servant Moses! Throughout my house he bears my trust: 8 face to face I speak to him, plainly and not in riddles. The presence of the Lord he beholds. Why, then, did you not fear to speak against my servant Moses?” 9 So angry was the Lord against them that when he departed, 10 and the cloud withdrew from the tent, there was Miriam, a snow-white leper! When Aaron turned and saw her a leper, he said to Moses, 11 “Ah, my lord! Please do not charge us with the sin that we have foolishly committed! 12 Let her not thus be like the stillborn babe that comes forth from its mother’s womb with its flesh half consumed.” 13 Then Moses cried to the Lord, “Please, not this! Pray, heal her!”

R: Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

1 [3] Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. 2 [4] Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me. (R) 3 [5] For I acknowledge my offense, and my sin is before me always: 4 [6] “Against you only have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight.” (R) That you may be justified in your sentence, vindicated when you condemn. 5 [7] Indeed, in guilt was I born, and in sin my mother conceived me. (R) 10 [12] A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. 11 [13] Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me. (R)

The doubt in Peter’s mind is something that we all come to experience at one time or another. It is clear that Jesus called Peter to come to Him walking on water. Peter trusts this call at first, and only when the ruffle of the wind arrives does he begin to doubt. We often start a project full of faith and trust but when the smallest and first troubles arrive, our doubts get out of proportion to the disturbances.

Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.

22 Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side of the sea, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone. 24 Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. 25 During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them, walking on the sea. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear. 27 At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” 28 Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 After they got into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God.” 34 After making the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret. 35 When the men of that place recognized him, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought to him all those who were sick 36 and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak, and as many as touched it were healed.

think: Do not be afraid to dream big. God is with you.

Read the Bible in one year 2 Maccabees 1-2

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

thank You, Lord, for: ______________________________________________________

SUBMERGED IN FEAR,

BUOYED UP BY HOPE

When one is young, one does crazy things at times. I remember an outing somewhere in Batangas when a group of seminarians, including me, went for an extended swimming far out from shore. We did what might be called sandbar hopping. All I had as flotation device was an old rubber basketball. Forget about fins, protective foot gear, swimming goggles, etc. We did not even have sunscreens and lotions whatsoever.

       I held on to that rubber ball for life as we swam through deeper troughs. When we found shallower shoals, we gently planted our bare feet, hoping we wouldn’t step onto jagged rocks and wound ourselves.

       Well, at some point I did — and worse. I stepped onto an innocent looking sea urchin. It was good we weren’t too far from the shore then. That little round thing sure packed so much potential for inflicting pain. At that point, I didn’t know which was better — being almost submerged in water or being subjected to such an intense pain. But I managed to haul myself to shore. I had that rubber ball, remember?

       Peter must have been kind of impulsive. He did not just jump once to the water. He also walked on water, after suggesting that the Lord Himself invite him. He did, for a while, on the strength of a half-digested and half-understood gift, until more than just water submerged him. He was inundated by fear.

       God knows how many times I have been afraid. I was afraid once when the ferry I was on, en route to giving much-needed help to typhoon victims down south, struggled with mighty and gigantic waves.

       Every time fear overcame me, I held on tight to my ball of hope in the Lord. I am still afraid of so many things. I fear the future. I fear getting sick and physically dying. But there is one thing that fear, no matter how real and strong, can never submerge. And every time fear rears its ugly head on me, like Peter, submerged in fear but buoyed by hope, I pray: “Lord, save me!” Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

---------- REFLECTION QUESTION ----------

What are your biggest fears? Surrender them to Jesus today.

Jesus, come bid me to walk on water towards You. Grant me the courage to take each step in faith. Amen.