Monday of week 18 in Ordinary Time
Gospel: Matthew 14:22-36In today’s Gospel, the disciples struggle against the wind while Jesus comes to them walking on the water. Peter begins to walk towards the Lord, but the moment he shifts his attention from Jesus to the force of the wind, fear overwhelms him and he begins to sink. This scene mirrors our own spiritual journey. Life often presents strong winds, suffering, uncertainty, failure, illness, or anxiety, and it is easy to become absorbed by their power. Yet Jesus invites us to focus not on the storm but on His presence. The wind may be strong, but His love is stronger. Fear grows when we measure the size of our problems; faith grows when we contemplate the greatness of Christ’s love. Even when Peter begins to sink, Jesus immediately stretches out His hand and saves him. The Lord never abandons those who cry out to Him. Every storm becomes an opportunity to discover that we are held not by our own strength but by His faithful love. The Gospel reminds us that peace does not come from the absence of strong winds, but from the certainty that Jesus is with us in the midst of them. When we keep our eyes fixed on Him, we discover that His love is always more powerful than whatever threatens to overwhelm us. Let’s reflect: When the storms of life arise, do I focus more on the force of the wind, or on the loving presence of Jesus, who is always reaching out His hand to save me?
Don Giorgio