Fr Kevin Kilgore

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Gospel: 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.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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This is the first time the disciples are without Jesus since he has called them by name. And what happens?

Disaster strikes!

The Lord sends them off in a boat by themselves so that he can spend the night in prayer. Meanwhile, a massive storm strikes – one so strong that these professional fishermen fear they are drowning.

Jesus, alone in prayer, isn’t ignorant of the storm; nor is he unaware of his disciples’ fears. Yet he allows them to drift alone in the night.

Finally, when he approaches them by walking on the water, he strikes up a conversation. “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”

That command – “Do not be afraid” – would’ve been a lot easier to accept had the Lord calmed the storm first. Yet he lets the wind continue to scream as the waves rise and fall.

Only after he tests Peter, inviting him to walk on the water, too, does the test end.

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Sometimes don’t we all feel like the disciples did?

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A storm strikes – perhaps not a literal hurricane – but something that scares or unnerves us. We cry out to Jesus for help, but it feels like he’s nowhere in sight – off praying by himself, as it were.

Then, when he finally appears to us, he strikes up a conversation, saying something to us like he did to the disciples, “Do not be afraid.”

Meanwhile, the waves rise and fall.

Only after we feel like we’re on the brink of drowning, as Peter did, does the Lord calm the storm.

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Learning how to trust that the storms of life shall not overcome us is, perhaps, one of the most difficult lessons in the spiritual life. But, as the Psalmist reminds us, “The flood waters may reach high, but you they shall not overcome” (Psalm 69).

Wherever we may be on our journey across the “Sea of Galilee,” the Lord is there – somewhere – inviting us to trust. What does that look like for me today?

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Image credits: (1) Storm on the Sea of Galilee, Rembrandt (2) Ibid. (3) The Tomahawk

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Gospel: Matthew 14: 13-21

When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist,
he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself.
The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns.
When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd,
his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick.
When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said,
“This is a deserted place and it is already late;
dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages
and buy food for themselves.”
He said to them, “There is no need for them to go away;
give them some food yourselves.”
But they said to him,
“Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.”
Then he said, “Bring them here to me,”
and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass.
Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven,
he said the blessing, broke the loaves,
and gave them to the disciples,
who in turn gave them to the crowds.
They all ate and were satisfied,
and they picked up the fragments left over–
twelve wicker baskets full.
Those who ate were about five thousand men,
not counting women and children.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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How did Jesus do it? How did he feed thousands of people with only five loaves and two fish?

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The honest answer is, we don’t know. All the Gospel tells us is that everyone, ate and was “satisfied.”

While we have to accept the possibility that Jesus could’ve simply multiplied the loaves and fish himself, some scholars argue that he did it another way.

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Instead of just multiplying food, Jesus transformed human hearts, inspiring people in that crowd to see themselves as part of the solution.

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“Give them some food yourselves,” he says.

In other words, I’ll give away what’s here, but you must reach into your own pockets and share what you have, as well.

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Imagine everyone with bread quietly tucked inside their pockets, reaching out and sharing what they had with others.

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This, then, might’ve been an even greater miracle – a moral miracle – inspiring thousands of people to work together.

That’s a lesson handed down through the generations: when problems arise, we must see ourselves as part of the solution.

This is true in terms of resolving poverty, famine, war, and even those little conflicts that happen inside our homes.

Whenever we find problems that need to be solved, we should see ourselves like the crowds may have that day – as part of the solution.

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Image credits: (1) Christianity (2) Multiplication of the Loaves icon (3) potential.com

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Gospel: Matthew 13:54-58

Jesus came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue.
They were astonished and said,
“Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds?
Is he not the carpenter’s son?
Is not his mother named Mary
and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?
Are not his sisters all with us?
Where did this man get all this?”
And they took offense at him.
But Jesus said to them,
“A prophet is not without honor except in his native place
and in his own house.”
And he did not work many mighty deeds there
because of their lack of faith.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Saint John Vianney, whose feast day we celebrate today, is the patron Saint of priests. 

I ask you to pray for my own priestly ministry, that like John, I may joyfully labor for the salvation of souls all the days of my life.

In his words, that I may, “Give everything away and hold nothing back.”

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John was ordained in 1815 and lived in the quaint town of Ars, France.

Every morning before celebrating Mass, he would kiss the ground in front of his parish, reminding himself that every person who entered the church was a soul loved infinitely by God.

Thousands felt the Lord’s mercy through him. In fact, he’d spend 18 hours a day in the confessional, listening to pilgrims from across Europe. Having little time for food or sleep, he’d often live off of one potato a day.

John’s message to his people was always the same: God’s love for you is greater than any sin you can commit. Just come home. Be open. Be honest. Receive a new beginning.

Isn’t that a message we can all benefit from?

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God doesn’t stand at the judgment seat wagging his finger at us in condemnation. 

He gazes upon us with his arms wide open, seeking only one thing:

Our love in return.

Saint John Vianney, pray for us.

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Image credits: (1) Pray for Priests, Twitter (2) Pinterest (3) Children of the Eucharist