Matthew 14:22-36

Numbers 12:1-13

Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 6cd-7, 12-13

Matthew 14:22-36

Jesus made the disciples get into a boat

and precede him to the other side of the sea,

while he dismissed the crowds.

After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.

When it was evening he was there alone.

Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore,

was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it.

During the fourth watch of the night,

he came toward them, walking on the sea.

When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified.

“It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear.

At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”

Peter said to him in reply,

“Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”

He said, “Come.”

Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.

But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened;

and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him,

and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

After they got into the boat, the wind died down.

Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying,

“Truly, you are the Son of God.”

After making the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret.

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

and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak,

and as many as touched it were healed.

Opening Prayer: Lord God, I need to be healed, and I need the power of your grace to overcome evil in my life. Without you, I can do nothing of lasting value. Help me to learn that lesson each day, so that I may bear fruit for your kingdom in the world.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Faith in Jesus’ Divine Sonship: After the miracle of the multiplication of the five loaves and two fish for the five thousand, Jesus made his disciples cross the sea of Galilee. Likely, Jesus didn’t want his disciples getting prideful and basking in the glory of having fed the crowds in a miraculous way. And so, Jesus took care of dismissing the crowds himself and afterward went up on the mountain to pray. Jesus was a man of deep prayer. The Gospels frequently refer to the times he spent in prayer, such as at his baptism, in the desert during temptation, before choosing his apostles, and before and after performing miracles. Before dawn, during the fourth watch of the night (3:00-6:00 AM), Jesus walked upon the sea toward his disciples as they struggled to get the boat to shore. At first, Jesus’ disciples thought that they were seeing a ghost. Jesus addressed their fear and commanded them, “Take courage, it is I.” This could also be translated, “Take courage, I AM.” By walking on the water and using the divine name, “I AM,” for himself, Jesus manifested his divine nature and invited his disciples to make an act of faith in his divinity. Peter responds with a partial act of faith, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” Peter is hesitant and somewhat unsure, but trusts for a time that he can walk upon the water. This faith lasts until he takes his eyes off Jesus and begins to fear the power of the wind, waves, and sea. The scene ends with not just Peter, but with all of the disciples in the boat worshipping Jesus, and saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God.”

2. Healings in Gennesaret: The disciples and Jesus landed at Gennesaret, a town midway between Capernaum and Magdala. Once again, the crowds did not allow Jesus and his disciples to have any time to themselves. What Jesus is teaching his disciples through his actions is that they need to die to themselves to serve the people. True love demands self-giving and overcomes selfishness. True love focuses on the good that other people need and how we can help them attain that good. The crowds needed the healing that only Jesus could provide. The physical healings that came about by touching the tassel on Jesus’ cloak point to something greater in the age of the Church – spiritual healing from sin and the promise of resurrection from the dead. The tassels Jesus wore on his cloak symbolized the fidelity of an Israelite to the Law of Moses. The old law has been brought to fulfillment and perfection in the New Law, which is the grace of the Holy Spirit. Thus, we symbolically touch the tassels of Jesus’ cloak when, through the sacraments of the Church, we are healed and strengthened by divine grace.

3. The Rebellion of Aaron and Miriam: The First Reading narrates the rebellion of Aaron, the high priest, and his wife, Miriam, against Moses. They accused him of having married a Cushite woman – likely Zipporah the Midianite (Exodus 2:21) or another woman after the death of Zipporah. Miriam and Aaron were jealous of his authority and thought that they could undermine Moses’ authority by pointing out how he had married a foreigner. “They put forward themselves as leaders, claiming that God speaks not only through Moses but also through them. In response, God reminds them that when he speaks to a prophet, it is often in a dream, but God speaks to Moses directly. Indeed, God says that Moses is ‘entrusted with all my house’ (Numbers 12:7). This phrase recalls Joseph, who was entrusted with all of Potiphar’s house and then all of Pharaoh’s house, being made, in effect, the prime minister of Egypt. If Yahweh is King, then by entrusting Moses with his house, he has made Moses a kind of prime minister. While Aaron, because of his priestly service, is not made unclean, Miriam is struck with leprosy as a result of her challenge. Aaron turns to Moses and calls him ‘lord,’ now recognizing Moses’ authority, and begs forgiveness and healing. Moses intercedes, and Miriam is healed after a week of being sent out of the camp, which is the law for lepers, who are considered unclean. Rebelling against God’s covenant leader is, in fact, rebellion against the One from whom the covenant leader receives his power and authority. Nevertheless, thanks to Moses’ intercession, God is also Israel’s healer” (Gray and Cavins, Walking with God, 103).

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, teach me to be a person of deep prayer. Guide my thoughts and my heart as I enter into communion with you and the Father. Pour the Love of the Holy Spirit into my soul so that I may ask for good things from my Father in heaven.

Living the Word of God: Is there a time when I rebelled against God or sought to do my own will over God’s will? What was that experience like? What did I learn from the experience? Are there difficulties on the horizon that I need to confront and require guidance from prayer? What is keeping me from trusting more fully in the Father’s care?