1 Kings 19:9a,11-13a; Psalm 84; Romans 9:1-5; Matthew 14:22-33)
I recently watched a documentary series on Elon Musk, which looked at his life, his ambitions and how he spends his money. For those that don’t know, he is driven to build a place where mankind can live on Mars. To this end he has developed or bought companies who manufacture electric vehicles, battery storage systems, enhanced solar capabilities and space exploration. Everything he seems to get involved with plays a part in his mission. One of his company’s has sewn up most of the NASA contracts to go to and from the International Space Station and to put new satellites into space. Despite all of this technology, one of the few things which still delays launch times is the weather. Man cannot control the weather. All we can do is forecast; based on previous weather conditions and computer modelling; but we cannot change it. In fact, this was demonstrated horrifically in January 1986 when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded because they took off when the weather was too cold despite engineers warning the decision makers that parts would fail if they tried to do so.
When we look at today’s Gospel we hear amazing things. First of all, we hear that Jesus walked on the sea. Jesus as Son of God can do what He wants to do, and this act defied all logic. Secondly, when Peter asked if he could join him, Jesus allowed Peter to also walk on the sea, but Peter’s faith gave way because he was afraid. Peter failed not because of Jesus’ ability, but because Peter lacked sufficient faith to allow Jesus to work through him. Finally, Jesus calmed the wind. All those years ago Jesus did what two thousand years of scientific discovery and engineering still cannot do, He controlled the weather precisely in the area He needed it to be calm.
There are many times in our life when we need to find calm. By turning to Jesus and having faith in the promises He made, we can find calm. We also see this in the first reading. While all of the Natural events were going on were Acts of God, it was only in the quiet whisper that God could be found. Our world is a busy and at times noisy place. If we are to truly find God, we need to seek out times of silence. It is in those times that the ‘sound of the whisper’ heard by Elijah after his 40-day walk can be available to us too.
Seeking silence is associated with one of the six Holy Habits which Bishop Philip is encouraging us to follow. When we spend time in front of the Blessed Sacrament, we are in the presence of the Lord. It is a time for us to be still. In a message for Good Shepherd Sunday, earlier this year, Pope Leo XIV urges us to “make time, then, for Eucharistic adoration; meditate faithfully on the word of God, so that you may put it into practice each day; and participate actively and fully in the sacramental and ecclesial life of the Church. In this way, you will come to know the Lord.”[1]
One of the aspects of the Gospel from last Sunday and today which is often overlooked is the desire of Jesus, to pray. Last week He had just heard the news of John the Baptist having been executed. He sought a place to pray but was moved by the crowd to minister to them. This week, Jesus spends some time alone, praying. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus takes the opportunity to spend time with his Father. It was something Jesus needed to do to maintain that intimacy with the Father. It is also something we need to do to maintain our relationship with God.
In the second reading today, we are reminded of the links we have with the Jewish Faith. These are the people who were entrusted with God’s laws, who God made His first covenant with. These are the people of the Old Testament, a race into which Jesus Christ, our Saviour was born. It is impossible to love God and at the same time, hold resentment for the Jewish people; these were chosen by God and were described by Pope St John Paul II as our ‘elder brothers’.
At a time when keyboard warriors are attempting to destabilise countries all around the world by blaming immigrants and refugees for the problems of the world, we as Christians need to speak out when we see evil. There are even some elected officials in countries who incite others to hate. Hatred is never the answer to problems. Historians link some of the rhetoric of today with the political tensions all around Europe prior to World War II. Jesus proclaimed a message of love; love of God and love of neighbour.
In the world God created, every other man and woman is our neighbour. It doesn’t matter what they look like, it doesn’t matter if they follow God or how they follow God, Jesus even said it doesn’t matter whether they are our enemy. We are still to love them. That is what Jesus instructed us to do and that is what we must do.
Further Reading
The Catechism of the Catholic Church
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
CCC 164: faith experiences testing
CCC 272-274: only faith can follow mysterious ways of providence
CCC 671-672: in difficult times, cultivate trust that all is subject to Christ
CCC 56-64, 121-122, 218-219: history of covenants; God’s love for Israel
CCC 839-840: the Church’s relationship to the Jewish people[2]
Please accompany in your prayers
- All those who are sick, either at home or in hospital, especially those who have very few or no visitors.
- Those who have died and those who grieve for them.
- The success of the Pastoral Area Mission Plan.
- Those struggling with addiction.
- Those preparing for Baptism, either as an individual or as a parent.
- Firefighters throughout the world battling to keep communities safe.
Deacon Tony
8th August 2026
[1] MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE LEO XIV FOR THE 63rd WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS (4th Sunday of Easter – 26 April 2026) – Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila
[2] Homiletic Directory, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments