St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church issued the following announcement on Aug. 9

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

1 Kings 19:1, 11-13 | Romans 9:1-5 | Matthew 14:22-33

Gospel

After he had fed the people, Jesus made the disciples get into a boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone. Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear.

At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”

Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”

He said, “Come.”

Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

After they got into the boat, the wind died down. Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God.”

1. In last week’s gospel Jesus went into a deserted place; now He goes up on the mountain to pray. How and where do you pray – alone, with others, at home, only at church, or anywhere? Where is your mountain? 

2.Do you, at times, find yourself in a boat and in a storm? (Is this pandemic a boat and a storm at this time of your life?) When you experience a storm, does praying calm you? Is it through prayer that you find Jesus in the boat (your life) with you? 

3. If Jesus asked you to come to Him, leave the boat and walk on the water, would you step out of the boat? How far do you think you would be able to walk? Does fear affect you as it affected Peter? Does it diminish your faith? How do your strengthen your faith and rid yourself of your fears? 

4. The storm is consistent with struggles caused by ourselves or by others. Does Christ calm your waters during your storms? Do you take courage in knowing He is with you?

“O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Original source can be found here.