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Kgs. 19:9, 11-13; Rom. 9:1-5; Mt. 14:22-33
It is our common experience
that when we face certain unexpected problems, our first reaction is,
“Lord save me.”
Some 850 years before Jesus was born there appeared in the Kingdom of Israel an extraordinary man, Elijah. As a punishment for the sins of the king and his people, the prophet announced a terrible drought. It lasted for three and a half years causing famine everywhere.
The revengeful queen swore to do away with Elijah. Then He fled to mount Horeb. Fearing for his life, he called upon the Lord to save him. The Israelites, while they were in trouble called upon the Lord to save them. And Peter, fearing for his life during a moment of human weakness, called upon the Lord to save him. Our forefathers called upon the Lord to save them. Our grandparents called upon the Lord to save them. Our parents call upon the Lord to save them. And we call upon the Lord to save us when we are beset with problems. Whenever we call upon God, He is beside us to help us. But often we fail to recognize God’s hand in those excruciating events.
Today’s Gospels tells us
that after feeding the five thousand, Jesus ordered His disciples to get into a
boat and cross to the other side, to Capernaum. In the fourth watch of the
night he went towards them, walking on the lake, and when the disciples saw him
walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It is a ghost’, they cried out in
fear.
The disciples
got upset, because they were unable to recognize Jesus. Whenever we get
upset for something, it will always be because we fail to recognize Jesus
in the events.
A man was sleeping one
night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light, and God appeared.
The Lord told the man he had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in
front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to Push against the
rock with all his might.
So, this the
man did, day after day. For many years he toiled from sunup to sundown, his
shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock,
pushing with all his might! Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and
worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain. Since the man was
showing discouragement, the adversary (Satan) decided to enter the picture by
placing thoughts into the weary mind. Satan said, 'You have been pushing
against that rock for a long time and it hasn't moved.' Thus he gave the man
the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These
thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man.
'Lord,' he
said, 'I have laboured long and hard in Your Service, putting all my strength
to do that which You have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even
budged that rock by half a millimetre. What is wrong? Why am I failing?'
The Lord responded compassionately, 'My friend, when I asked you to serve Me
and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with
all of your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that
I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now you come to Me
with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed... But, is that really
so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back shiny and
brown. Your hands are callused from constant pressure, your legs have become
massive and hard. Your calling was to be Obedient and to push. That you have
done.
When
everything seems to go wrong . . . . . . . . . . . . . Just P.U.S.H.
When the job gets you down....................................... Just P.U.S.H.
When people don't do as you think they should.......... . Just P.U.S.H.
When your money is 'gone' and the bills are due......... . Just P.U.S.H.
When people just don't understand you...................... Just P.U.S.H.
When the job gets you down....................................... Just P.U.S.H.
When people don't do as you think they should.......... . Just P.U.S.H.
When your money is 'gone' and the bills are due......... . Just P.U.S.H.
When people just don't understand you...................... Just P.U.S.H.
Recognize the presence of God, in every
event, and hold on. You will hear the tremendous powerful words of Jesus,
“courage! It is I! Do not be afraid.
Often our trouble is that we do not stop
to listen to the words of Jesus in the midst of our worries. The disciples saw
Jesus walking towards them. Whenever we are in trouble, too, Jesus is walking
towards us. He is never far from us. He is walking towards us to
take away our fears, to take away our troubles, to take away our sorrows. There
is a beautiful poem by an unknown poet.
Two Boxes
I have in my hands two boxes
which God gave me to hold
he said, “Put all your sorrows in the black
and all your joys in the gold
which God gave me to hold
he said, “Put all your sorrows in the black
and all your joys in the gold
I heeded his words, and in the two box
both my joys and sorrows I store
but though the gold became heavier each day
the black was as light as before
both my joys and sorrows I store
but though the gold became heavier each day
the black was as light as before
With curiosity I opened the black
I wanted to find out why
and I saw in the base of the box a hole
which my sorrows had fallen out by
I wanted to find out why
and I saw in the base of the box a hole
which my sorrows had fallen out by
I showed the hole to God, and mused aloud,
I wonder where my sorrows could be
He smiled a gentle smile at me
My child they’re all here with Me
I wonder where my sorrows could be
He smiled a gentle smile at me
My child they’re all here with Me
I asked, “God, why give me the boxes,
why the gold without, and black with the hole?”
“My child the gold is for you to count your blessings,
the black is for you to let go.”
why the gold without, and black with the hole?”
“My child the gold is for you to count your blessings,
the black is for you to let go.”
When Peter found that Jesus was walking
towards them, he cried out “Lord, if it is you, tell me to come to
you across the water.” Peter expressed a desire to imitate what the
master was doing. This is what is expected of us too. To imitate the life of
Jesus. To show compassion to our brothers and sisters, as did Jesus.
When they were hungry, Jesus fed them. When they were distressed
Jesus comforted them. When they were troubled by illness, Jesus cured
them.
Peter started to imitate his master with
great enthusiasm, but as he felt the force of the wind he began to sink. He was
not able to sustain in his attempt to imitate Jesus, for long. When doubts
overtook him, he began to sink. Even then Peter showed his absolute trust in
Jesus. He shouted, ‘Lord Save me.” When we too feel the force of pressure
from the society, the force of pressure from the contemporary customs, the
force of pressure from the materialistic attitude towards life we too
give up our enthusiasm to imitate Jesus, and sink like Peter. But, in our
troubled moments our prayer too should be “Lord save us.” Jesus will put out
his hands to hold us.
Satish