Jesus does not fail to save those who cry out to him for help in nights of gloom and storm.  For he is the Son of God.

For Jesus, to save folks means, in concrete, to free them from illnesses and hunger.  And for the Teacher, to save his disciples is not to let them sink or be terribly afraid.  For the waves are tossing about their boat due to the storm.  They think, besides, that, as dawn breaks, they see in the dark a ghost walking on the water.

But Jesus tells them not to be afraid, for it is he.  This gives the hint that he is letting them know him a bit more.  In fact, not failing to save Peter and to calm the storm, Jesus receives homage from them; they confess that he is the Son of God.  That is, the are less ignorant now.

And if we know Jesus well, we will also take him to be the Son of God who wants to save us.  Yes, to save us who, like the disciples, falter and waver.  Furthermore, we will give ourselves to him so that he may make use of us.

After all, he says that we ourselves should give food to the crowd.  And he asks us who are weak to strengthen our brothers and sisters once we have turned back.  For we must show concern for their salvation though this may lead us to being cut off from Christ.  Also, he makes clear that those who believe in him will also do the works he does, greater works even.

But for us to follow him and do his works implies praying by ourselves.  Meeting God who makes himself known in a still and small whisper.  To detect it, we have stay quiet, step back from all the clamor; we are to settle down and receive ….

Lord Jesus, man of the greatest prayer, grant us to be men and women of prayer (SV.EN IX:326; SV.EN XI:76).  We will thus be able to do all things, able, like you, to save those who are sinking.  To give up even our bodies and shed our blood.

9 August 2026
19th Sunday in O.T. (A)
1 Kgs 19, 9a. 11-13a; Rom 9, 1-5; Mt 14, 22-33