19th Sunday of OT, year ’A’
“Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.” The Apostles gave way to what things seemed to be on the outside, along with the crowd they had got into power struggles and their traps. Jesus invites them to go on tot he other side. They have to go beyond what is visible and corporal,these temporary realities in order to reach the invisible and eternal dimensions of what Jesus announces. The disciples cannot go before Jesus onto he other side!Thye have to learn by themselves that without Jesus it was impossible to reach it. So what then is this boat that Jesus gets hio disciples to get into? Wouldn’t it be te struggle against temptaions and dificult circumstances? Said Origen. Jesus must become the King of their hearts! There are storms, not just on the side of the Lake of Galilee but also in the paostles’ hearts. They didn’t understand the multiplicatio of the loves and had followeed the crowd who had wanted to proclaim Jesus as King! Now they are afraoid and can tell how disturbed people are. We are like nth disciples afraid of the storm and who are all fearful. Jesus comes and by his simple presence he brings Peace to others. Still today there are bloody torments in manya reas of the globe. Jesus is the Light of the world and comes to save humanity so as to nourish it with his Life. "Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” Jesus has gone up the mountain, apart, so as to pray. He prays for the crowds who have eaten the loaves. Jesus knows about the waves and the wind upon the sea and its effects. Thanks to the prayer Jesus makes to his Father, the disciples aven’t been damaged whreas the sea, the waves and the wind were going against them violently. To go from one side of the lake to another means to accept our fears and to go with them, with our personal dpoubts as we see how Jesus leads us in our lives. Peter still must be renewed in his confidence, he hasn’t yet experiences how Jesus is present. Throught he Word ans the multiplication of loaves, Jesus announces an even more marvellous gift, the Eucharist. He is indeed the Bread of a whole new Life. The Church will be this great family taking care of its smallest and poorest memebers. They are the widow and the orphan, the widow has lost her husband and the orphan has lost his parents! The Church wishes ti be attentive to all distressful situations. " And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed." After this wave of panic, everbody goes tot he other side thanks to Jesus. For the Apostles Jesus has become Master of Life. This is important for us today who are taken up into fearful tempataions. Jesus leads us towards hard situations and tells us to get into the boat. It isn’t possible for us to get tot he other side without bearing the ordeal of the waves and wind coming against us. Towards teh end of the night, Jesus comes towards us and makes the sea calm down and calm for us. In a multitude of ways he comes to have his Love be born in us and give us His peace. With Him and through Him we have become a new Creation for a new world. When we choose Jesus we are committed with Him in the future for there isn’t a greater Love other than His own.