19the Sunday Ordinary Time A

Matthew 14:22-33

“Keep your eyes on the road!” This is the first rule that we have to follow while driving a motor vehicle. The rule sounds very simple but very significant for reasons of safety.

In the gospel, Peter the Apostle, wanted to share in the Lord’s power of walking on tope of the water. Jesus invited him to get out of the boat. Peter took a few steps for a moment on the water but quickly lost his confidence. As his attention turned away from Jesus to other things in the midst of a raging storm and waves, Peter began to sink. The next best thing he did was to cry out to Jesus for help. The Lord stretched out his hand to rescue the apostle, rebuked him for his little faith.

What went wrong with Peter? Certainly, he violated the first rule as a disciple of Jesus. Like a driver in a car, all went well when Peter “kept his eyes fixed on Jesus” as his Lord and Savior. But as soon as he turned his attention away from Jesus and started to worry about the storm, he got into trouble.

Oftentimes, we are like Peter, too. We can easily love and believe God when everything is fine with us. However, when life becomes difficult and rough, we begin to complain, and to question the goodness and compassion of God. Most of all, we begin to doubt our faith in God.

Faith in God may not eliminate all difficulties and trials in life. But faith gives us the necessary strength and the grace to cope with them. And so no matter how overwhelming they may be, we must learn to “keep our eyes focused firmly on Jesus.” We should begin calling out to Jesus immediately when everything in life starts sinking, and surely Jesus will not fail to raise us up.

Just be reminded that Peter and the saints of the Church are not persons who have never fallen, but rather they are persons who, having fallen, reached out to the hand of God. Just as well want to reach our destination safely by “keeping our eyes on the road,” so we also want to reach our final destination in heaven safely. Thus, we must learn too “to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus” so that we may not fall, fail and sink.

By Fr. Gerry Donato, SVD