Eucharistic Gospel Reading for Sunday of Proper 14: Year A
“Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” (Matthew 14: 28 – 30)
There are several places in the Gospel accounts when people take their eyes off Jesus, and when they do, they fall from faith and lose grace. When Martha stares at Mary her sister sitting at Jesus’ feet, she complains about having to do all the work herself (Luke 10: 38 – 42). In that same house from another perspective (and another Gospel), Judas complains about an expensive perfume used to anoint Jesus’ feet (John 12: 1 – 8). Again, Judas was not looking at Jesus himself but rather at Mary anointing the feet of Jesus, – a distraction. Folks, we must maintain our focus on the Lord.
Distractions abound. We must focus on our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, everyday. If not, we get lost. We lose faith. We fall from grace. We can remind ourselves of our daily focus on Jesus through scripture readings, gazing up the cross, through prayer beads, through pictures, paintings and icons. We can use our daily office as found in the Book of Common Prayer. There are so many ways to keep our Lord Jesus at the center of our being. But the first thing we must do is “Want To!” If we go to bed with a prayer on our lips, we wake with Christ on our minds. Dreams work this way.
Feelings of fear, jealousy and anger tend to be the biggest obstacles that hinder our view of Jesus and His guidance in our daily lives. We must stay focused.
Peter took his eyes off of Jesus to look at the wind and sank into the water. He then prayed, “Lord Save Me! And of course, our Lord did, but at the same time, reminded him, and us, of our lackluster faith. We must stay focused. Even when the winds hurl and toss the storms of our lives to and fro, we must still, stay focused. Let us never, never, never, take our eyes off the Prize.
As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
Let us pray: Proper 14 The Sunday closest to August 10 (BCP p. 232)
Grant to us, Lord, we pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that we, who cannot exist without you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
onewhoponders 