Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Gospel: Mt 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.
ENVY IS SELF-DESTRUCTIVE: Aristotle the ancient philosopher defined envy as the painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another joined with a desire to possess the same. Miriam is envious because of Moses, and this is sinful before God. God chooses leaders for his people not in their perfection but out of his love. This is enabled by lack of trust in the genuineness of the calling of the one envied. But both in the first and the second reading we see God proving his servants. We see the weakness of Peter manifesting as soon as he starts to sink and Jesus reveals it as lack of faith. Do not envy others but ask God to use you in the area that he has called you. Envy does not make you or the other person better but destroys the church.
PRAYER: God help us to emulate others and not to envy them.
DAILY GOSPEL 