It’s often said that actions speak louder than words. I agree. But I also think that there are times when what we need is not volume but clarity. 

Imagine a suitor courting a woman. The guy can come up with all sorts of gestures, big and small, to express his affection for her. But all of those actions, good as they may be, still don’t take the place of a man’s clearly stated intentions. Too many, unfortunately, have been left hanging because one or both parties refused to say what they mean and mean what they say.

Words and actions are both important—and for different reasons. 

Just as this is true for our relationships, so is it true for our faith. We must embody what it is that we claim to believe by what we do. At the same time, we must proclaim and share it by what we say. Use your words, and use them well. Mon Reyes (rizmonreyes@gmail.com)

Reflect:

Do you need to do more, or do you need to say more?

Father, You are reliable. Remind us of this truth whenever we are shaken. Amen.

Saint Ariston and companions, pray for us.

Amos heard God’s call and opened his heart to the Lord. And the Lord spoke to Amos regarding Israel. He tells us in today’s reading that once he heard God’s call, he had no choice but to obey Him. The Lord asks us to speak the truth that compels us to obey. 

¹ Hear this word, O children of Israel, that the Lord pronounces over you, over the whole family that I brought up from the land of Egypt: ² You alone have I favored, more than all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your crimes. ³ Do two walk together unless they have agreed? ⁴ Does a lion roar in the forest when it has no prey? Does a young lion cry out from its den unless it has seized something? ⁵ Is a bird brought to earth by a snare when there is no lure for it? Does a snare spring up from the ground without catching anything? ⁶ If the trumpet sounds in a city, will the people not be frightened? If evil befalls a city, has not the Lord caused it? ⁷ Indeed, the Lord God does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants, the prophets. ⁸ The lion roars—who will not be afraid! The Lord God speaks—who will not prophesy! ^4:11 I brought upon you such upheaval as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah: you were like a brand plucked from the fire; yet you returned not to me, says the Lord. ¹² So now I will deal with you in my own way, O Israel! and since I will deal thus with you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel. 

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 5:4-6, 6-7, 8

R: Lead me in your justice, Lord.

⁴ At dawn I bring my plea expectantly before you. ⁵ For you, O God, delight not in wickedness; no evil man remains with you; 6 the arrogant may not stand in your sight. (R) You hate all evildoers; ⁷ you destroy all who speak falsehood; the bloodthirsty and the deceitful the Lord abhors. (R) ⁸ But I, because of your abundant mercy, will enter your house; I will worship at your holy temple in fear of you, O Lord. (R)

Gospel | Matthew 8:23-27

We have to always trust in the Lord whether our lives are filled with storms or calm. Trusting Him is harder when things are not going well. But it makes a lot of sense to trust in the Lord, especially when times are hard. The true character of a person comes to the fore in adversity. A disciple is someone who willingly trusts in the Lord.

Gospel Acclamation

I trust in the Lord; my soul trusts in his word.

²³ As Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him. ²⁴ Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by waves;but he was asleep. ²⁵ They came and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” ²⁶ He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?” Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was great calm. ²⁷ The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and the sea obey?”

Read the Bible in one year! Read JOB 22 - 25 today.

The natural depression of the Lake of Galilee makes it an area of convergence for hot and cold winds that blow from the elevations of the roaring hills of Galilee and from the plateau of the Golan Heights. Hence, sudden and violent storms punctuate even the sunny days of fisher folks navigating around the lake. Even then, the lake provided a means of fast travel for Jesus from one town or village to another during the course of His early ministry.

Truly human, Jesus experienced fatigue, thirst, and hunger. He needed sleep and would often nap in between His ministry of teaching, healing, and deliverance. Truly God, the power over creation and creatures always resided in Him. Our Gospel account today highlights these things about Jesus. In fact, biblicists refer to the story of the storm at the Lake as a “theophany,” that is, a revelation of Jesus’ divine nature. Awakened by the worried disciples, He rebuked the wind and sea—and there was calm.

The disciples had to “wake” Jesus with their anxious supplication: “Lord, save us!” This point does not indicate a deficiency in Jesus’ ability to know things. 

It rather points to the truth of Jesus’ teaching: “Seek and you will find, knock and it shall be opened, ask and you shall receive.” God wants of us the humility of faith and prayer; He wants of us the virtue of submission. God’s power is there, but we need to “turn it on.”

Prayer is, therefore, the secret of true strength. It is connectedness to God who is the Source of everything—the Alpha and the Omega. We often hear people say: “What matters in this life is whom you know—your reliable connections with persons in power and authority. Then you can have things done!” And so, many spend much time and energy nurturing their “powerful connections.”

How many see God as their “most important connection?” Fr. Domie Guzman, SSP

Reflection Question:

What is your own way of “turning on” God’s power for your daily life?

Dear Lord, enable me to connect with You daily, the Source of all power and strength. Amen.

Today, I pray for: __________________________________