09/08/2026
"As long as we make Christ the center of our life, we can survive and live normally. Even in the biggest storms, God is always there to help and rescue us. We just have to trust in Him and fix our faith and eyes on Jesus."
In today's Gospel, we witness one of the most powerful displays of Jesus' divinity—He walks on water. Fr. Dennis humorously notes that perhaps Jesus had no money for a boat, but more profoundly, He was revealing that He is the Lord of all creation. The One who holds the universe in His hands is not bound by the laws of nature.
In the Old Testament, chaos represented everything that was dark, formless, and frightening. But above all that chaos stood God. At Mount Sinai, He revealed Himself as "I AM WHO I AM"—the sovereign Lord over all things. In today's Gospel, there is also chaos. The Sea of Galilee is about 21 kilometers long, and a violent storm arose. The winds were fierce, and the waves threatened to swallow the disciples' boat. It was in the fourth watch of the night—between 3:00 and 6:00 AM—that Jesus came to them, walking on the water.
Peter recognized Him and boldly asked, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." Jesus simply said, "Come." And Peter stepped out.
But as Peter walked toward Jesus, he became distracted by the wind and the waves. He took his eyes off the Lord, and he began to sink. He cried out, "Lord, save me!" And immediately, Jesus reached out His hand and caught him, saying, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"
The Lessons We Carry:
First, struggles are part of God's plan for our growth. Fr. Dennis reminds us that just as a pilot becomes skilled through turbulent weather and a sailor through rough seas, we too become stronger through life's challenges. The storms we face are not punishments—they are opportunities for growth. God allows trials so that we may become stronger, more resilient, and more dependent on Him. If we want to become successful in our faith, we must not be afraid or anxious. God is molding us into strong persons.
Second, we must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. Why did Peter sink? Not because the wind was too strong, but because his focus shifted from Jesus to the storm. The moment he became distracted by the chaos around him, he began to fall. The same happens to us. When we take our eyes off Jesus and focus on our problems, our fears, and our worries, we begin to drown. We lose sight of the One who is standing right in front of us, ready to save us.
Third, trust in God like a child. Fr. Dennis beautifully compares our faith to a baby sleeping peacefully in its mother's arms. The baby does not worry about whether the mother is strong enough to hold him or feed him. The baby simply trusts. That is the kind of faith we are called to have—a faith that rests securely in God's loving care, even when the storms rage around us.
But sometimes, like Peter, we want to see miracles. We ask for signs. We demand proof. And yet, even when Jesus is right before us, we still doubt. Fr. Dennis challenges us to examine our faith, especially when it is tested by superstitions and distractions. We must remember that as long as Christ is the center of our lives, we can survive anything. Even the biggest storms cannot overcome us if we keep our eyes fixed on Him.
Let us fix our faith and our eyes on Jesus. Let us trust Him completely, even when the waters are rough and the winds are strong. He is always there to help and rescue us. We just have to trust Him.
Happy Sunday! 💚
