Let's talk about today's readings 1/7/09

[cheeto1]

usccb.org/nab/readings/010709.shtml

The first reading tells us that anyone who fears is not yet
perfect in love. Does that mean that the night before
Jesus died, when He was fearing for His life and suffering,
that He was not yet perfect in love? Or does it apply
only to those who fear punishment? I have seen many who
do not fear punishment, yet are far from perfect in love.

Ah, what comforting words in the gospel, “Take courage!
It is I!” But why did He intend to pass them by? He saw
the wind tossing the boat about, why did He intend to pass
them by, and what changed His mind?

The saint today is Raymond of Penyafort from Spain, famous
for the freeing of slaves.

So what struck you about today’s readings?:bible1:

 

[scaron]

usccb.org/nab/readings/010709.shtml

Ah, what comforting words in the gospel, “Take courage!
It is I!” But why did He intend to pass them by? He saw
the wind tossing the boat about, why did He intend to pass
them by, and what changed His mind?

About the fourth watch of the night,
he came toward them walking on the sea.
He meant to pass by them.
But when they saw him walking on the sea,
they thought it was a ghost and cried out.
They had all seen him and were terrified.
But at once he spoke with them,
“Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!”
He got into the boat with them and the wind died down.
They were completely astounded.
They had not understood the incident of the loaves.
On the contrary, their hearts were hardened.

Their hearts were hardened. They did not see the mercy and compassion Our Lord had on the 5000, only the economic possibilities. Thus, as often happens to us when we have hardened hearts and are not looking toward Jesus but rowing away from Him, a trial appeared. With hardened hearts, they chose to try to overcome the trial by force of their own efforts. And God respects that choice, so He would walk by and leave them to it.

But, as we all do, they failed, and were overcome by fear, and turned to Him only when they realized the depth of the trouble they were in. The “ghost” was the final push over the edge. They cried out, and he came to them, and calmed the waters.

 

[Light_Seeker]

I see an interesting correlation here to end times, Jesus 2nd coming…

This was the second time the Apostles were in a perilous storm in a boat. The first time, Jesus was with them in the boat. As Jesus was on earth 2000 years ago. In this reading, the second time in the boat in the threatening storm, he is watching & comes at the very last hour, the 4th watch. Not directly to them, the Apostles cried out. As in many of His miracles, ask and you shall receive. The Apostles hearts were hardened in the boat. And in Revelation, Babylon falls. Then at the sound of his voice, they were calmed. Yes, a sheep knows his shepherds voice. And triumphs over the storm.

 

[Neil_Anthony]

I think the first reading is about the Fear of the Lord. We fear punishment from God because we don’t love God enough. When we obey God completely out of love, we will no longer fear God’s punishments.

I can identify with the apostles in the gospel reading. Why wouldn’t they be afraid if they are in a storm and could drown? Are we really supposed to stop worrying about our safety when we have faith in God? Didn’t God give us natural fear to help us survive?

 

[cheeto1]

Their hearts were hardened. They did not see the mercy and compassion Our Lord had on the 5000, only the economic possibilities. Thus, as often happens to us when we have hardened hearts and are not looking toward Jesus but rowing away from Him, a trial appeared. With hardened hearts, they chose to try to overcome the trial by force of their own efforts. And God respects that choice, so He would walk by and leave them to it.

But, as we all do, they failed, and were overcome by fear, and turned to Him only when they realized the depth of the trouble they were in. The “ghost” was the final push over the edge. They cried out, and he came to them, and calmed the waters.

Aren’t you forgetting that it was He Himself who told them to
get into that boat and go that way? That was His choice, not theirs, because He wanted to be by Himself and pray. What would your advice be to them in the strong wind? They may
not have understood His compassion, but what did they do
wrong? First, they did what He said with the loaves and the
fish. Then, they got in the boat and went just the way the Lord
told them to. It’s not their fault they didn’t know there was no
such thing as ghosts, He was walking on the water!
And how Peter ever got the idea in another gospel to walk on
the water too is beyond me. Why would he even think of that?

 

[cheeto1]

thank you lightseeker, yes, I agree with you.

and neil anthony, good questions!
So you think that “fear” is referring to the fear punishment
from God. Isn’t it interesting that the fear of the Lord is also
the beginning of wisdom?

 

[Light_Seeker]

1Jn 4:18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and he who fears is not perfected in love.

This rings home.

My teenage daughter has a boyfriend-of-the-month puppylove thing. But she loves these boys. mmm hmmm. And fears their rejections. Or gets jealous if they talk to another girl. And over-analyzes every word they say. And has no trust, but they are really her possessions.



I then compare this with my dear sweetheart, married 21 years. If our relationship is not perfected in love, I can not image how it is not!

 

[M0nkey]

It’s very simple, sometimes the Lord comes and casts miracles. We often respond astounded, not with understanding. So it’s important for us to thank Him, each and every hour, with gladness and thanksgiving. Lest our hearts harden and take everything for granted.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

A couple of phrases in the Gospel puzzle me:

47 And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48* And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out; 50* for they all saw him, and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; have no fear.” 51 And he got into the boat with them and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, 52* for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened

They were in trouble; so He walked out to them. Why then did He intend to pass them by?

 

[cheeto1]

They were in trouble; so He walked out to them. Why then did He intend to pass them by?

Scaron tried to explain it, but I don’t get it. Was it a punishment
for failure to understand compassion? Or that He thought they
didn’t want His help? Neither one makes sense to me.

It seemed like He was sneaking to the other side to just be
on the other side already when the disciples arrived, but then
He couldn’t keep going because they needed Him.

 

[Light_Seeker]

I think Saint Bede has the best explanation on this verse:

Often then does the love of heaven seem to have deserted the faithful in tribulation, so that it may be thought that Jesus wishes to pass by His disciples, as it were, toiling in the sea. And still do heretics suppose that the Lord was a phantom, and did not take upon Him real flesh from the Virgin.

Also note that His miracles were not instigated by Himself … but performed as a result of a plea or a cry of help, or someone seeking Him to cure an ailment. Today we petition Him in prayer.

He wasn’t going to pass them by. The Lord knew the Apostles still didn’t get it, even after feeding 5000 with 5 loaves, even after sending them out to preach & cure ailments, and even after all the other miracles - they still needed a lesson, their hearts were hardened. So he orders them to get in a boat. The apostles get in trouble, & thought they were alone. Of course they weren’t, Jesus was watching them, could of saved them from the shore if He wished - but that still might escape their understanding. So He walks on water out to them, but doesn’t do anything until they cry out to Him. They’re immediately comforted, the storm stops … He is their Savior!

Beautiful scripture. Christianity in a nutshell!

 

[cheeto1]

So He was just waiting for them to ask?

O.k. , let that be a lesson to us. No wonder so many people
pray before a trip even starts!

 

[Neil_Anthony]

Scaron tried to explain it, but I don’t get it. Was it a punishment
for failure to understand compassion? Or that He thought they
didn’t want His help? Neither one makes sense to me.

It seemed like He was sneaking to the other side to just be
on the other side already when the disciples arrived, but then
He couldn’t keep going because they needed Him.

Look at what this other version says:
“International Standard Version (©2008)
He saw that his disciples were straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he came to them, walking on the sea. He intended to go up right beside them,”

 

[Joe_Kelley]

Thanks to all for your answers. I think I see it a bit clearer now.

 

[cheeto1]

Look at what this other version says:
“International Standard Version (©2008)
He saw that his disciples were straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he came to them, walking on the sea. He intended to go up right beside them,”

Do you think this version is saying that He did not intend to
pass them by, but to go right up to them?