Presensiya ng Diyos: The Faith in God amid uncertainty

    

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

13 August 2023

 

First Reading: 1 Kgs 19:9a, 11-13a

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 85:9, 10, 11-12, 13-14

Second Reading: Rom 9:1-5

Gospel: Mt 14:22-23

 

Reflection

By: Bro. Emerson C. Maala

Pastoral Year Formation

Diocese of Imus

Tahanan ng Mabuting Pastol

When I was a child, whenever it rained, I would always make a mini boat out of a small piece of paper. Then I will let it float on a ditch and see how far it can go. However, since it is a paper, it easily submerged especially when it was raining. In the Gospel, Jesus made the disciples to get in the boat and go on the other side and there, the faith of the disciples was tested.

The theme of the readings for today is faith. Faith is a personal response to God's self-revelation and an acknowledgment of His truth. It is a gift from God, given to us through His grace. Through faith, we come to know and believe in the presence of God, the truths taught by Jesus Christ, and the teachings of the Church.

One of the unique ways of seminary formation of Tahanan ng Mabuting Pastol is having the community thrust. Community thrust is a word or phrase that comes up through sharing of past experiences and will serve as a foundation to be lived for one year. On my first year, the community thrust that we had was PRESENSYA NG DIYOS. This community thrust came up because of the experience of faith in God in the midst of Covid-19 pandemic where each of us has experienced the presence of God even in the uncertainty of the event. Some of us have experienced anxiety and it was really an experience of test of faith for us.

The Gospel story of Peter walking on water is a profound reminder of the importance of faith and trust in Jesus, especially when facing the storms of life. Like Peter, we often find ourselves surrounded by challenges, fears, and uncertainties. Yet, if we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, if we trust in His presence and power, we can walk on water too, navigating through life's difficulties with courage and hope.

However, the moment we allow fear, doubt, or distractions to divert our gaze from Jesus, we start sinking into the waters of despair and anxiety. Like Peter, we need to call out to Jesus in our moments of weakness, saying, "Lord, save me!" He is always ready to extend His hand and lift us up from the depths of our struggles.

In the face of life's storms, let us foster a life of prayer and intimacy with Jesus. Prayer allows us to hear the gentle whispering of God's voice in our hearts, guiding us through life's challenges. Regularly spending time with the Lord in prayer and reflection strengthens our faith and helps us keep our focus on Him amidst the storms.

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, You tested your disciples, their courage and trust in You that lead them to see how important their faith is in You. Lord Jesus, we ask for courage to have faith and trust in You by letting us experience Your presence in our daily lives so that we may be able to face the challenges and the storms in our lives. You who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.