Sunday, August 09, 2020 - 19th Sunday of Ordinary Time - Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 14, 22-33 - I hope for the Lord, and I await his word.

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Today's Gospel expresses in pictorial form our daily life. Our life seems to be like a boat sailing on the ocean, subject to anguish, torment and anxiety. Indeed, on the ocean strong winds can rise, creating scum and waves, ready to capsize and swallow our frail boat. When this happens, despair is born as a human being, for life is precious, and it is better to die tomorrow than to die today. Let us remember that we are not the masters of our lives, but it is God the Father who disposes of them. Let us always entrust to Him our work, our life, our future, especially in the event of problems that may cause our ship to sink, for those who fight alone are often defeated. Let us turn to Jesus. God is always there, in the face of those waves that can disrupt our lives: sickness, lack of money, lack of food, possible family and social problems. So much the worse for those who do not want to entrust themselves to God, because He has seen everything that happens to us from the smallest to the biggest; and He always extends His hand when we approach Him.

Thus, Jesus sets three conditions today for those who want to be led by Jesus towards victory. First, we must have faith. Faith dispels fear, so let us always increase our faith. He who has faith always wins in the end, for faith saves. The second is that we must have faith in God. Trust, of course, comes from faith. No matter how big or small our problems are, everything ends up being solved when we trust in God, because God is faithful to his promise. Third, call upon God in case something happens. Invoke His Name, for God has ears and hears, He has eyes and sees. "Lord! Save me," said Peter. St. Peter knew that Jesus could save him, so he did not hesitate to call upon Him. Jesus is the true and only Saviour in all places and at all times. "Let not your heart be troubled, let not your heart be afraid. I give you my peace," said Christ. Increase in us, Jesus, the faith You have given us, so that we may overcome what may frighten us. Amen.