The last time I was at the Sea of Galilee, on top the mountain of the Beatitudes overlooking Tabgha, the place where Jesus miraculously fed the Five Thousand, we watched as a big storm brewed up from the south side of the Jordan River valley and was headed north and right toward us. Our tour guide was already on the phone to the boat operator to cancel our Holy Hour on the Sea scheduled for later that night. The weather forecast was talking in terms of a ‘hurricane’ blowing in from the Mediterranean Sea, then making landfall and then heading north as it so often does. All of the pilgrim and pleasure trips scheduled on the lake later that evening were cancelled.

The reason I mention this is because Peter and the other disciples would have seen that storm developing: the clouds darkening and the wind strengthening. Scripture study is fascinating and we learn as we study the Gospel reading:

Jesus forced the disciples get into a boat and precede him to the other side”

which is a much better translation.

They did not want to get into the boat, because they knew that this was a big storm—a hurricane.

As fishermen on the lake, Peter and the others knew that this was a very bad idea to try to row or set sail out that night. Just to get into that boat would have been a great test of their faith. Yet he made them— forced them—is the actual word St. Matthew used, to do so.

Why would Jesus have done such a thing? He knew what was going to happen later. This was a test of faith in more ways than one and for all of the disciples, not just St. Peter. I can imagine Thomas grumbling and saying: “Boys, we are all surely going to die tonight!”

As fishermen, Peter and the other eleven were no doubt very superstitious and needed to be strongly encouraged to get into that boat - and amazingly they were obedient and they did so. What lessons can we learn from this? Well, maybe you are fearful at this time and need a little encouraging to come back to Mass.

Come, Jesus says to Peter, do not be afraid. A time of crisis will often bring out the best in us. Don’t waste this crisis: use it well. It is a time of unconditional faith. Fr. Tommy Lane, a great Irish preacher puts it like this:

“It has been said that we have a crisis every year and a major crisis every decade. Hopefully during every trial we grow and mature so that we are better able to cope with the next trial. One of the things learned during a trial is that we cannot do by our own strength what we can do with the grace of God.” “Jesus forced the disciples get into a boat and precede him to the other side.”

We really grow spiritually in time of crisis. God is always calling us to change and mature. Let’s plan on learning together as there is so much to learn from Jesus!

Tuesday, August 15 is the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary. This year it is a Holy Day of Obligation; we will have a Vigil Mass on Monday at 6PM and the Daily Masses are at 7AM and 6PM.

On Labor Day, September 4, we will have a 7AM and a 9AM Mass. We will also host a special Pot Luck and Barbecue in the Parish Hall in the afternoon from 4-7PM.

Fr. Kilian and all of our Parish Staff

BACK TO LIST BACK