Twenty-first Sunday of Ordinary Time (A)

 

Twenty-first Sunday of Ordinary Time (A) [Mt 16:13-20]

23.08.2026

Peter’s Confession of Faith in Jesus

Readings: (1) Is 22:19-23 (2) Rom 11:33-36

1.    Theme in brief

Personal commitment to Jesus

2.    Focus Statement  

Christian faith does not consist in only knowing about Jesus, but knowing Jesus personally and living out that faith in the Church founded on the authority given by Christ to Peter.

3.    Explanation of the text

The question raised by Jesus to his disciples at Caesarea Philippi, according to today’s gospel, about his true identity marks a turning point in his life. From this point onwards he begins to correct their wrong understanding of his messiahship. He begins to instruct them about his destiny to suffer and to die (16:21). First he asks them about popular and public opinion about his identity by referring to himself as “the Son of Man” – a title that has a messianic connotation in Jewish mindset (16:13). The disciples reply that the public opinion about him is divided, but one thing is common: he is no ordinary person. Some say that he is John the Baptist risen from the dead; others say he is prophet Elijah who (according to popular belief) is supposed to return before the Messiah comes. Some others say he is Jeremiah who was also (like Jesus) rejected by his people (16:14). Next he asks them a specific and personal question: What do ‘you’ and not others, say about me (16:15)? In other words, he asks them to take a personal stand about him or give their personal opinion about him irrespective of what others may say. Thus the first question is about public opinion on him and the second is about their personal opinion.

Peter becomes the spokesperson for all the Twelve and pronounces his confession of faith on their behalf: “You are the Messiah (means in Hebrew Christ or the Anointed One), the Son of the living God” (16:16). Simon Peter’s confession implies that for him Jesus is more than a prophet. For him he is both Messiah and the Son of God (a divine person). Of course, later on we will come to know that his notion of Jesus’ messiahship is not yet fully perfect. He still has the notion of a king endowed with divine powers who will deliver Israel from its enemies and establish a prosperous kingdom on earth. After all, he is aware that in the OT even kings (belonging to David’s dynasty) are called sons of God.

In spite of Simon’s wrong understanding, Jesus declares Simon blessed; because what he has confessed has come to him from a divine revelation, and not from any “flesh and blood” (that is, human wisdom or mortal power, 16:17). It is not the result of his merit or human effort but is a pure gift from God. He grants this gift to whomever he wants. Due to this, Jesus gives him three special privileges: (1) to be a rock of firm support for the community of believers; (2) to hold the keys of the Kingdom of heaven – symbolizing his power to bind and to loosen, that is, to work for the reconciliation of people among themselves and with God; and (3) to be the foundation on which the Church – the community that seeks to live the message of the Kingdom – will be built (16:18-19).

The change of name from Simon to “Rock” or Peter indicates his new role as the leader of the new community (the Church). Jesus promises that powers of death and the underworld or hell (“the gates of Hades”) opposed to God will not be able to destroy the Church fully (16:18). He also promises that God himself will bind and loose what Peter binds and looses – which may imply a special authority given to him in matters of church discipline, decision-making, forbidding or allowing something, forgiving or not forgiving sins, etc.

4.    Application to life                     

Most of us are Christians today because we were born of Christian parents who brought us up in their faith. It was their choice, rather than ours. But the question is: today, why do we want to be Christians? Jesus asks each one of us, “Why are you following me? Who am I for you personally?” If Jesus were to ask this question to you, what would be your answer? Here catechism or theological answer will not do. Today’s gospel text challenges us to examine whether as adults now we are Christians purely because of our parents or birth in a Christian family, because of our personal conviction and resolve to commit ourselves to the cause of Christ. The question is not what our parents taught us, what preachers preach to us, what catechism teachers teach us, what theology tells us about Jesus Christ, but what I personally say about him. Can each one of us say that today I am a Christian not only because of my parents, but because of my personal conviction that Jesus is my only Lord and Saviour? Can I say that Christ’s message as well as example of love, peace and compassion, liberation from sin or evil and change to a new way of life (here and hereafter),  has touched and influenced me in such a way that I cannot but say: “To whom shall I go? Lord, in you alone are words that sustain love and divine life” (cf. Jn 6:68-69).

Today’s text motivates us to not to be satisfied by going through all the religious observances just to follow the crowd or because others are doing it, but to make a personal commitment or decision to live Christ’s values. Jesus asks each one of us: “Why have you chosen to follow me?” Just repeating Peter’s answer is not enough. Christ is not only a historical figure, a hero of the Bible, a Person who is present in the church or any place of worship, but also he is alive. We are called to show to the world that Christ not only existed in history, but also he can be encountered today with faith in all the ups and downs of life. The question we need to ask is: Do Christ and his values make an impact on our lives? Everyday we need to make a personal decision to live by his values and meet him through our active concern for the needy, compassion for those who suffer, forgiving the offenders without conditions, etc.

Today’s gospel invites each one of us has to make a personal discovery of Jesus. Christian faith is a personal decision to commit ourselves to Christ. To each one of us Jesus asks: “You, and what do ‘you’ say about me?” Christian faith doesn’t consist only in knowing about Jesus, i.e. only about his life and teachings. One may know all his teachings or words by heart for the sake of knowledge or to get best marks in a Bible test, or one may admire him as an extraordinary personality, but need not be committed to him or his cause at all. Christian faith consists in knowing Jesus personally. From John’s gospel we come to know that Jesus had asked Pilate during his trial whether it was his personal opinion that he (Jesus) was the King of the Jews or he was saying it because others had told him so (Jn18:34). Similarly he asks us today: “You call me Lord and Saviour because your parents/ teachers/ catechists/ religious preachers have told you so, or out of your own personal conviction?” Jesus seems to say: “Forget about your parents and other spiritual guides, now who am I for you personally?”

How do we grow into the personal ‘knowledge’ (or experience) of Jesus? We grow (1) by developing a personal and deeper intimacy with him through prayer and meditation on his Word; (2) by taking a personal stand for his values and resisting worldly values; and (3) by trying to imitate his spirit of selfless love, service and compassion, especially towards the needy, the suffering and the marginalized. Hence, confessing our faith in Christ, as Simon Peter did, also involves a decision to follow the course of life which Jesus lived: an active concern and compassion for the poor and the downtrodden and taking up our crosses of suffering for the welfare of others. Our confession of faith should reflect in our life and actions.  We have to make a decision either for Christ or against him everyday in life-situations. In our day-to-day life sometimes we decide against him by not only committing sins but also by omitting to do the good he has commanded us to do, or by keeping silence when his values are violated.

When people of other faiths ask me why I am a Christian, after showing due respect to their religious faith, I give mainly two reasons for my personal choice to follow Christ: (1) I am attracted to the image of God as taught by him. Christ has told us that God forgives sinners without any condition (such as, if you behave well, I will love you) and limit. He loves a sinner even while he/she is sinning. God goes in search of a sinner and forgives him/her without giving any punishment. He is a God, who gives everything freely and asks nothing for himself, not even a sacrifice. This image of God is very appealing to me.

(2) I choose to follow Jesus and love to be his disciple because of his identification with my struggles, doubts, rejection and suffering. I believe that following him gives meaning to the mysteries of my life. When I think about the struggles and problems of my own life, I find a reflection of those things in his life. Though he was innocent, he was crucified like a criminal. He didn’t want to suffer like any other human beings, but he willingly took upon himself all our sorrows and painful death. He too felt as I feel that even God had abandoned (forsaken) him when he suffered alone the agony of the cross, rejected by all. When I am rejected by others, when I suffer unjustly, when my prayers are not answered and when I feel the absence of God, I can cry out with Jesus, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me (Mt 27:46)?”

Besides, today’s text has another lesson. It invites us to live out our faith within the Church which is built on the foundation (rock) of Peter’s confession of faith and the authority given to him. We need to firmly believe that the powers of death and destruction cannot prevail over the Church, as Jesus assured to Peter. When we observe divisions and scandals in the Church, it is natural for us to doubt whether the Church is holy at all. Besides internal turmoil, there are external forces that are bent on destroying the Church. In spite of internal upheavals due to human limitations/ failures and external opposition by satanic forces, Jesus has assured us that his Church will stand firm. Whenever we are shaken by the scandals and shocking events in the Church we must remember the assurance given by Jesus that human failures and limitations cannot totally destroy his vision for the world or the mission he entrusted to the Church. After all, the light of faith has come to us not only through saints but also through many missionaries and evangelizers who had their own human weaknesses throughout the history of the Church.

5.    Response to God's Word

Today, why are we Christians? Is it purely because of our parents, or birth in a Christian family, or out of our own personal conviction? Do we take a personal stand in favour of Christ’s values when confronted with worldly values? Does our confession of faith in Christ reflect in our life and actions? In our day-to-day life when do we fail to decide for Christ or his values? Or what are the ways in which we go against him? How often do we go against him by omitting to do the good he has commanded us to do? Do we dilute our faith or Christian commitment because of scandals in the Church?

6.    A prayer.

Jesus, I accept you as the only Lord and Saviour of my life. I once again make a personal commitment to live by your values. Give me the courage to stand firmly for your standards when they are negated by the world. May your Church be a sacrament of your love and be faithful to your mission in spite of her human frailties. Amen.

Twentieth Sunday of Ordinary Time (A)

 

  Twentieth Sunday of Ordinary Time (A) [Mt 15:21-28]

16.08.2026

The Canaanite Woman’s Faith

Readings: (1) Is 56:1.6-7 (2) Rom 11:13-15.29-32

1.    Theme in brief

A deeper and persistent faith

2.    Focus Statement   

Healing or salvation is a gift given by Jesus to anyone who has “great” and persistent faith irrespective of his/her ethnic or racial background.

3.    Explanation of the text

Matthew has placed this passage immediately after Jesus’ dispute with the Pharisees and scribes regarding purity and impurity (15:1-20) to show that Gentiles will no longer be considered impure. Here, a Gentile woman belonging to the hated Canaanite race becomes a model of genuine faith. This indicates that God's compassion is no more restricted to the chosen race (Israel) and will lead to the world-wide Gentile mission in future. It looks as if Jesus purposely goes to Tyre and Sidon, a Gentile territory (15:21) and does this miracle to show that a Gentile woman has better faith than the chosen people (Israelites).  

In her desperate moment, the woman firmly believes that Jesus is the only hope for her daughter who is tormented by a demon (15:22). By addressing him as Lord and Son of David (15:22), she acknowledges that he is the promised Messiah from David’s dynasty (or from the Jewish race). All that she asks for is a prayer we often repeat in the liturgy: “Lord, have mercy” on me (15:22).

The disciples request Jesus to send away the woman either by attending to her need quickly or refusing her, because she seems to be a nuisance to them (15:23). Though he hears her shouting, first he does not answer at all (15:23), and later says his primary mission is for Israel whom he compares to a lost sheep as Isaiah did in his days (Is 53:6). If we think that Jesus is unwilling to answer her request because she is a Canaanite, this story would get an ethnic or racial colour. In fact, he is not interested in her race but in her faith.

In fact, Jesus severely tests her faith even after begging for help (15:25).  The first test comes when Jesus shows at first his reluctance to help her on the ground that his present mission is limited only to the lost seep of Israel (15:24), though a time will come when it will be equally open to the Gentiles. The second test comes when she comes and kneels before him (acknowledging his divine origin) and begs for his divine assistance (15:25). At that time Jesus answers that it is unfair to throw children’s bread to the pet-dogs in the house (15:26). Though this indirectly implies that the Jews are like children and Gentiles are like pet-dogs, it all depends on how one says it. Jesus’ compassion for her and her daughter and his appreciation for her faith later on clearly indicate that he must have used these seemingly rough words with a smile just to test how deep her faith is. She passes in the test of faith and comes out successfully when she wittingly replies that even the pet-dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the master’s table (15:27). She indirectly admits with all humility that though she is like pet-dogs, she must be permitted to eat at least the crumbs from the children’s share. She recognizes Israel's priority in the divine plan.

At the darkest moment of her life she goes on pleading persistently in spite of being snubbed both by the disciples and Jesus in the beginning. Here is a Gentile woman who is convinced that he is the Messiah and seeks his mercy, whereas the Jewish leaders reject him. Jesus appreciates and rewards her “great” and persistent faith by healing her daughter (15:28). The message becomes clearer that healing is a reward given by Jesus to anyone who has “great” faith irrespective of his/her ethnic or racial background. Though she only asks for crumbs that fall from the master's table, she receives a sumptuous feast when she sees her daughter in the pink of health. Jesus’ praise for her faith (15:28) makes it clear that both the Jews and Gentiles can approach God only through faith in him as Messiah, and not on the basis of their race.

Application to life                     

We notice four characters in today’s gospel text: the Canaanite woman, her daughter, the disciples of Jesus and Jesus himself. All the four had different attitudes. The daughter was tormented by a demon and not in her sound mind; the disciples wanted Jesus to dismiss the woman immediately; the woman recognized the divinity in Jesus by calling him the Son of David; but Jesus recognized her great faith and rewarded her by healing her daughter instantly purely on the merit of that faith.

It is a human tendency sometimes to do favours requested by people who are not so close to us, just to get rid of them. Like the disciples of Jesus, we too think of helping people, of the kind of Canaanite woman, to be freed from the nuisance they cause, and not really out of compassion or love as Jesus did. Once we can get rid of them, we think we can have peace. Thus our personal convenience takes precedence over genuine human need. It is good to examine and see how many times we have become deaf to the needs of the poor and the suffering and avoided them for our comforts. Are the poor and the needy persons a nuisance for us?

Secondly, discriminations and prejudices based on somebody’s gender, ethnic or racial origin, nationality, tribe or caste and religion are very common among people all over the world. We notice stereotyping and name-calling of people belonging to another ethnic/ racial/ caste/ religious community in various parts of the world. We have also witnessed religious crusades or hate campaign against others’ religion and ethnic cleansing or genocide in the pages of history up to modern times. Even today religious fundamentalism or fanaticism gives rise to wars, riots and terrorist activities. From today’s gospel text we come to know that Jesus crossed three barriers in order to heal the daughter of the Canaanite woman.

First of all, she was a woman who did not matter much in his society because of gender discrimination between men and women; secondly she was a hated Gentile and a follower of an idolatrous religion; and worst still she was a Canaanite by race whose people were considered to be national and religious enemies of Israel. Jesus did not attend to her appeal in the beginning, not because she was a woman, or a Gentile, or an enemy of his race and religion. For him all these things were immaterial. He just wanted to see the depth of her faith by testing it.  Once she passed the test of faith, he rewarded it by healing her daughter instantly. Though she was a pagan, Jesus finds in her “great faith” (15:28) in contrast to the “little faith” of disciples whom he had chided earlier. His heart is bigger and larger than our exclusive boundaries. He wants to tell us that God looks into our hearts and the depth of our faith and not at our gender, race, caste or nationality. Faith alone brings salvation and not our races. We have to examine ourselves and see whether we exclude or shut out some people from our service or dealings due to prejudices against their caste, race, nationality, religion and bad record; whether we make room for everybody in our dealings; whether we are ghetto-minded; and whether our faith in Christ and the example of this non-Israelite woman motivate us to overcome our racial and religious prejudices with the power of faith.

Various type of prejudices mentioned above are so deeply rooted in us that our Christian faith has not succeeded in removing them fully. Why? We have two natures, so to say. Our first nature is human nature. As far as human nature is concerned we are like all other people of the world. But the culture in which we are born makes us unlike other people of the world. It becomes our second nature, since it gets deeply rooted in our psychic system through a process called ‘enculturation’. (Anthropologists use this term for the process through which a child unconsciously imbibes the cultural patterns of the society into which it is born and brought up.) Because of enculturation we think that our customs, food, dress, songs, attitudes, etc., are the best ones and others’ are not so good. Similarly, we are brought up to think that our religion is the best one and what others believe is mostly superstition.

Today’s gospel deals with the issues of inclusion and exclusion in our social relationships and in the Church. Jesus makes it clear that the only condition for salvation is faith and human need. Anyone who is in need of God’s grace and our helping hand should not be turned away. When this condition is met, our policy should be: “Include all, exclude none!” All of us have our boundaries. But our Christian faith is supposed to equip us with supernatural grace to go beyond our boundaries and rise above our natural inclinations. But quite often ethnic/ racial/ caste/ religious prejudices predominate over faith even among those who have undergone long years of spiritual formation and theological training. This passage makes it clear that God’s mercy is above ethnic and religious barriers that we humans have established. We need to make conscious efforts every day to overcome our prejudices with the power of faith. Otherwise the result will be scandalous divisions, groupism, unhealthy competitions, power struggle based on group affiliation, etc., in our Christian communities, dioceses and religious congregations. Today’s gospel invites us to move from our narrow-mindedness to broadmindedness, from ghetto-mentality to universal outlook, and from exclusive relationships to inclusiveness.

Thirdly, the Canaanite woman in today’s gospel teaches us about the need for persistent faith and perseverance in prayer. It is clear that she loved her daughter so dearly. That ardent love motivated her to plead with Jesus with persistence and perseverance. She considered Jesus not only as her only hope but also the only hope for her daughter’s life. From the beginning her approach to Jesus was of total trust and humility. First she addressed Jesus as the Lord and Son of David (that is, the promised Messiah from David’s dynasty). Then she asked him to have mercy on her. Later she knelt down before him in humble prayer, begging for his help. She did not give up at both the tests put by Jesus: (1) that his ministry for the time being is limited only to Israelites; and (2) that it is not fair to give children’s bread to pet-dogs. Jesus rewarded her indomitable and persistent faith. The decisive question is whether we show our unshakable trust in God by persistently praying, like her, especially when God delays granting us what we ask for in prayer for reasons known to him alone.  Even after praying regularly if we do not get what we ask in prayer, there is a great temptation in all of us to give up prayer altogether. Our prayer of petitions is not meant only to get personal favours from God, but also to increase our dependence and trust in him. Repeated pleading like the Canaanite woman, makes us humble beggars of God’s mercy and increase our intimacy with him. Intimacy or communion with God is what prayer is all about.

4.    Response to God's Word

Do we exclude or shut out some people from our service or dealings due to prejudices against their caste, race, religion and bad record? Do we make room for everybody in our dealings? Are we Christians ghetto-minded? Do we have the persistent faith like this Canaanite woman? Do we perseverance of faith, especially when God does not grant us exactly what we desire? Due to our failure to make conscious efforts to overcome our prejudices with the power of faith in Christ, do we become a part of those forces that create scandalous divisions, groupism, unhealthy competitions, power struggle based on group affiliation, etc., in our communities?

5.    A prayer.

Gracious Lord, grant that genuine human need may take precedence over our personal convenience in our conduct. We are sorry for the times we excluded or shut out some people from our service or dealings due to prejudices against their caste, race, nationality, religion and bad record. Grant that we may make conscious efforts every day to overcome our prejudices with the power of our faith and move from our narrow-mindedness to broadmindedness, from ghetto-mentality to universal outlook, and from exclusive relationships to inclusiveness.

 

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (A)

 

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (A)

15.08.2026

Readings: (1) Rev 11:19. 12:1-6.10 (2) 1 Cor 15:20-27 (3) Lk 1:39-56

[N.B.: Exceptionally, for our reflections today, we are including all the three readings.]

1.    Theme in brief

Fidelity to our vocation and victory over evil forces

2.    Focus Statement

Mary’s Assumption into heaven symbolizes our own hope of winning a final victory over the forces of evil and death with unshakable faith in God’s promises and by remaining faithful to our vocation like her.

3.    Explanation of the text

Today’s first reading speaks about the vision of John regarding a great portent or sign of the woman that appeared in heaven (Rev 12:1). The woman refers to the Church, the Mother of all the faithful. Her crying out in birth-pangs (Rev 12:2) refers to the pain of persecution and opposition which the Church has undergone from the beginning until now as she ‘gives birth’ to the child. The child is none other than Christ himself (Rev 12:4-5). Symbolically, giving birth to Christ also means giving birth to his values in the world. The red dragon that wants to devour the child as soon as it is born (Rev12:4) symbolizes the devil, and refers to all evil forces of the world that are opposed to the Messiah or his values. The seven heads, ten horns and a tail of the dragon, which can bang one-third stars to the ground (Rev 12:3-4), symbolize the tremendous capacity of evil forces to cause destruction and harm. The conflict between the woman and the red dragon symbolizes the conflict between the good (Gospel values preached by the Church) and evil forces opposed to those values.

In the second reading, Paul says that Christ has broken the bondage of death by his resurrection. He gives us the assurance that we who belong to Christ will also share his final victory over death. Death is the last enemy to be destroyed by him at his Final Coming (1 Cor 15:26).

In today’s gospel, Luke mentions that Elizabeth calls Mary “blessed” twice (1:42 and 45): first because of the fruit of her womb, or her bearing of the Divine Child in her womb, and secondly because of her faith in the fulfilment of God’s Word. Mary, in her Song of Praise (known as “Magnificat”), says that all generations will call her blessed because the Almighty has done great things for her (1) by lifting her up from her lowly state instead of lifting up the powerful ones (1:52); (2) by remembering his mercy that lasts from generation to generation (1:50, 54); and (3) by his fidelity (faithfulness) to fulfil the promises made to Abraham and his descendants (1:55). Further, as Luke mentions in another place, Mary is blessed because she is not only the Mother but also an ideal disciple of Christ. As an ideal disciple, she not only hears the Word of God but also keeps it or obeys it in faith (11:28).

4.    Application to life 

Originally the figure of the woman in conflict with the dragon mentioned in today’s first reading referred to the early Church that was under persecution. But later on in Catholic tradition this woman came to be identified with Mother Mary since she exemplifies all the characteristics of the Church so well. Therefore, the figure of the woman clothed with the sun primarily refers to the Church and is only secondarily applied to Mother Mary. From her beginnings till today, the pilgrim Church undergoes constant persecution and opposition in her mission to preach the gospel of Christ. The Church is compared to a woman whose birth-pangs to give birth to a baby are compared to the pain of persecution of the Church to give birth to Christ and his gospel values in the world.

Just like the situation of the pilgrim Church, Mary’s life was also a pilgrimage of faith. In her faith-journey, she had to constantly struggle with the ‘dragon’ (that is, evil forces operative in the world) to fulfil her vocation and mission on earth. Her faith was severely tested during this combat with the satanic forces symbolized by the red dragon. These are some of the evil or satanic forces Mary faced in her life-journey: (1) to conceive and bear a child as a virgin – one of the strictest taboos in Jewish society in those days; (2) an Emperor’s (Augustus’) order to go to one’s own town for census-registration during the last stage of her pregnancy; (3) the rejection by her own people at the time of her delivery in Bethlehem; (4) the flight into Egypt like a refugee to save her child from the killers sent by Herod; (5) loneliness after Joseph’s death and departure of her Son to do his Father’s work; (6) criticism and opposition to her son by the Jewish religious leaders; (5) and crucifixion of her innocent son like a criminal.

Though these ‘dragons’ tried their best to ‘devour’ her faith in God and win a victory over her, by remaining faithful to her original ‘yes’ (known as ‘fiat’) to him, Mary won a victory over them (Lk 1:38). Though she did not understand God’s ways fully and how his promises would be fulfilled, she believed and trusted that God’s Word would be fulfilled in ways known to him alone. Our faith and obedience are also severely tested like Mary’s, as explained above, when the happenings go quite contrary to our expectations and plans. Mary had already submitted herself to obey God’s Word as a servant (handmaid) would obey her Master (Lk 1:45). By submitting herself to his holy will, she allowed herself to be led by God who alone would guide her destiny. As a reward to her total fidelity, God did not allow her body to undergo decay at death. After the completion of her earthly life, she was assumed body and soul into the glory of heaven, and was totally liberated from evil.

Today also, there are so many evil forces waiting for a chance to devour the good in us and destroy Christ’s values in the world. These forces have tremendous capacity to destroy good conduct, virtues and spiritual values in us, just like the capacity of the red dragon mentioned above. They always wait for a chance to force us to the abyss of darkness. Think of the evil influence of the mass media on us (especially on our children) that propagate violence and crimes. Taking a cue from Mary’s Magnificat, in which she announces the downfall of the proud and the powerful (Lk 1:51-52), we need to continue our fight against corruption, pollution and other forms of environmental degradation, consumerism, terrorism,  injustices, crimes against humanity, etc., even if it may displease the powerful, or sometimes our neighbours and friends. Sometimes we may have to suffer persecution and opposition like the birth-pangs of a mother for our testimony to Christ’s values (such as honesty and truth). Mary’s assumption has a strong message for us that in our struggle with the forces of evil, corruption, decay and death, we have to imitate her unshakable faith in the fulfilment of God’s Word and, like her, overcome these forces with the strength of faith.

For example, in some parts of the world when the missionaries work for social justice they are accused as communists or naxalites/mafias, or when they create social consciousness among the poor and the downtrodden (who belong to other faiths) about their human rights and dignity, they are accused as proselytizers or anti-nationals. The ‘red dragon’ or evil forces continue to devour the values of Christ, such as justice, peace, fraternity, liberty and human dignity. Just as they caused ‘birth-pangs’ (persecutions) to the infant Church and in the faith-journey of Mother Mary, they continue to do the same to the Church and her children even today. We know that many of Christ’s values directly contradict the normal way of thinking in the world. Let us take one example: For the world forgiveness of enemies is weakness and foolishness; if ever we forgive our offenders, it should be done with certain conditions.  But for Jesus forgiving an offender without any condition is a revolution of love. Mary too announces this revolution of love which contradicts the world’s ways: Normally the powerful sit on thrones, but she says that God lifts up the lowly to the thrones (Lk 1:52); normally the rich have their stomachs full, but she says God sends them away empty and fills the hungry with good things (Lk 1:53).

As Mary is twice called ‘blessed’ by her cousin Elizabeth in today’s gospel, as St. Paul also says in his letter to the Ephesians, we too are blessed in Christ with every spiritual blessing from the moment of our baptism (cf. Eph 1:3). As she bore Christ in her womb and gave birth to him, our baptismal vocation is also to become “Christ-bearers” and spiritually give ‘birth’ to Christ or to his values in the hearts of people around us. Today’s first reading begins with a vision in which John sees God's temple in heaven being opened and of the Ark of the Covenant seen within it (Rev 11:19). In Catholic tradition (cf. her Litany), Mary is called the Ark of the Covenant because she bore Jesus within her, or she treasured God’s living Word within her, just as the Ark of the Covenant placed in a special tent during the desert-journey of Israelites symbolized for them God’s presence and faithfulness to his covenant. We too like Mary become the Ark of the Covenant when we become signs of Jesus’ presence in the world by loving and serving the needy not in theory but in practical ways as Jesus loved and served – by doing good to the needy, feeding the hungry, taking care of the sick, and by serving the poor and the neglected. In today’s gospel, Mother Mary’s setting out and going “in haste” to serve Elizabeth (1:39-40) exemplifies her proactive concern for the needy neighbour. This ‘haste’ indicates her eagerness and zeal to render service to her cousin in her difficulty without any request from her side – just because of her sensitivity to Elizabeth’s needs at that time. Today’s feast motivates us to imitate the model of charity given by Mary and, like her, remain faithful to our mission of joyful but sacrificial service.

Finally, today’s feast is a feast of hope for all of us. We too are destined to be where Mother Mary is. This feast fills us with hope in various ways: (1) that we too will ultimately triumph over or be totally liberated from sin and eternal death; (2) that we too will be raised body and soul like her in the final resurrection of the body; (3) that we too will get her reward of heavenly glory if we live a life of fidelity to our vocation and mission of giving Christ to the world. The resurrection of the body, by which our last enemy (that is, death) will be destroyed, is assured to us at the Final Coming of Christ as mentioned in today’s second reading. This hope is the antidote to the feeling of despair and hopelessness that is spreading like a cancer in modern society. Today quite many people experience emptiness in spite of having plenty. Mary opens for us the door of hope and teaches us how to progress in its path: by trusting in God’s Word and the fulfilment of his promises; by allowing ourselves to be guided by his Word; and by doing his will even in times of trials and tribulations. We plead with Mary to pray for us that no worldly powers may rob us of our hope. May she lead us to Jesus who is our Hope.

5.   Response to God's Word

Do we respond to God’s Word with a deep faith in the fulfilment of God’s promises even against all odds, as Mary did? Do we try to find out God’s plans for us by reflecting on God’s Word and entrusting ourselves to God’s care for their fulfilment? Are we faithful like Mary to our life’s call and mission? Are we faithful like her to the mission of defeating evil with good and becoming bearers of Christ’s values in our world, in spite of opposition or intimidation? When we face so much evil around us, instead of giving up the fight, do we sometimes flee to ‘wilderness’ (Rev 12:6), i.e. take recourse to prayer and solitude to be spiritually nourished by God?

6.    A Prayer

Lord, today, our soul magnifies you and our spirit rejoices in you our Saviour, because you have looked with favour on the lowliness of Mary your Handmaid. You have really done wonderful things for her by calling her to give Jesus to the world. By submitting herself to your holy will, she allowed herself to be led by you. As a reward to her total fidelity, you assumed her with body and soul into the glory of heaven. In our struggle with the forces of evil, corruption, decay and death may we imitate her unshakable faith in the fulfilment of your Word and triumph over these with the strength of faith. May we cooperate with your grace like her, so that we too may share her reward of heavenly glory. Amen.

 

 

Nineteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time (A)

 

Nineteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time (A) [Mt 14:22-33]

09.08.2026

Jesus Walks on the Water

Readings: (1) 1 Kings 19:9.11-13 (2) Rom 9:1-5

1.    Theme in brief:

Progress from little faith to greater faith

2.    Focus Statement:  

We need to make a progress from our little faith to a deeper faith in order to get sufficient spiritual energy to battle against the storms of life such as trials, fears, doubts and evil forces.

3.    Explanation of the text

Today’s gospel that narrates the miracle of Jesus walking on water and stilling the storm in the sea is meant to teach the disciples a lesson about the necessity of moving from little or shallow faith to a deeper faith in him. It teaches them that they need to constantly struggle against some great ‘storms’ that batter against their faith in God or Christ, such as trials, fears, doubts and influence of evil forces. These are the tempests or storms that threaten to sink the ‘boat’ of life in the faith-journey of disciples. This passage is rich in symbolic meanings: (1) the wind blowing against their boat (14:24) symbolizes the trials and temptations that the disciples have to struggle against in their faith-journey; (2) their getting terrified when they saw Jesus walking on water, with the thought of seeing a ghost and crying out in fear (14:26), symbolizes the forces of fear overruling their faith in God; (3) Jesus’ rebuke of Peter points at his doubts due to his little faith (24:31); and (4) the roaring sea and the mighty waves symbolize the evil or satanic powers at work in the sea as it was the common worldview of the Jews at the time of Jesus. Here we see Jesus struggling against these evil forces and winning a victory over them by stilling the storm (14:32).

It is significant that Jesus retreats to the mountain “by himself” to pray (14:23) while he sends his disciples out into the raging and roaring sea. In Matthew’s Gospel mountain is a place for encountering God in solitude. This could serve the purpose of giving an example of the need of prayer in the midst of maddening activism, or testing the faith of the disciples when they meet a crisis in his absence.

What terrified the disciples is not the possibility of sinking and dying but the sight of Jesus walking on water whom they think to be a ghost. Though everybody says what they see is a ghost (14:26), Peter seems to have some faith in Jesus mixed with equal doubt. This is why he says: “If it is you, command me to come to you on water” (14:28). When Jesus commands him to come, he ventures to walk on water towards Jesus (14:29). But his faith is less than what is required for a true disciple. He begins to sink because he "notices the strong wind," gets frightened, and cries out "Lord, save me" (14:30). Jesus chides him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt” (14:31)? This rebuke is intended for all his disciples because they are shown as persons who underestimate Jesus’ power over the forces of nature. Peter represents all the disciples for his impulsive love for the Lord; at the same time for the smallness of his faith weakened by fear and doubt. As long as Peter has faith, he shares Jesus’ power of walking on the water; but the moment he doubts, due to the littleness of his faith, he begins to sink. Then Jesus alone can rescue him.

The disciples never think of the possibility of Jesus knowing their present plight or problems and coming to their rescue by walking on the water and stilling the storm (14:25, 32). Though Peter’s attempt to walk on water is his own idea, Jesus approves it by asking him to come to him on water (14:28-29). Peter should have realized, once Jesus has approved his decision, what he has to do is only to trust in him and put himself into his care. Peter fails to do it, precisely because he forgets about the predominance of Jesus’ almighty power over the storm’s mighty power. He doubts at the very presence of Jesus or his power to rescue him at the time of storm.

The disciples learn some lessons from this event: (1) Their faith always remains vulnerable to storms of life. Only a deeper faith of offering their whole life to God with total trust in him can give them sufficient spiritual energy to face these storms. (2) Jesus has authority not only over sin (because he forgives sins) and sickness (because he heals the sick), but also over the forces of nature. This leads them to make a confession of faith in him that he is truly the Son of God (14:33).

4.    Application to life                     

Our life is a journey, and because of our faith it is a faith-journey or a pilgrimage. In this journey we are often driven by forces more powerful than we can control.  Faith is not a readymade thing. It has its own ups and downs; it grows and wanes. It is constantly threatened by ‘storms’ of life. Today’s gospel text points to the trials, fears, doubts and evil forces that blow against our faith. They are like the storms that threaten to sink our faith-life’s boat.

Trials of faith come to us in many ways: when sudden calamities and misfortunes fall on us; when God seems to be simply absent and not caring for us; when our suffering is not taken away; when we face failures and disappointments one after another; when God seems to be not listening to our prayers; etc. Our fears increase day by day as the world advances: fear of being robbed; of being attacked by an enemy; of remaining unemployed; of losing a job; of being killed in a bomb blast or accident; of a sudden transfer to a remote place; of dreadful sicknesses like cancer and heart attack; of being left alone in old age; of breakage of love-relationships; of what others may think of us or say to us when we try to behave differently from others; of our children getting into deviant or criminal behaviour; of natural or man-made calamities (like accidents, floods, earthquakes, cyclones); of the unknown future; of untimely or unprepared death…. The list goes on ……… These fears, whether imaginary/ unrealistic or realistic, seem to become our masters controlling and driving us to wrong directions.

Sometimes doubts about our faith also haunt us. We doubt whether all our efforts will be fruitful; whether our plans will succeed; whether there is a God who allows the just to suffer; why does he permit suffering; why can’t he control it with his almighty powers; why does he allow natural calamities to fall on us when we do his work; why there is so much evil in the world….? Besides, there are so many evil forces operative in the world such as corruption, unjust structures of society, crimes against humanity, terrorism, wars, riots, substance abuses, ruthless exploitation of natural resources leading to eco-injustice, etc. When we become victims of these evil forces, our faith is severely tested. There are evil forces in our basic (human) nature also which try to work against our faith such as anger, greed, lust, pride, sloth, envy and gluttony.

When trials, fears (whether real or imaginary), doubts and evil forces take control of us and rule over our minds, they enslave us. Instead of the Lord directing our lives, these four ‘storms’ become an independent force driving us where we may not like to go. They become our worst masters and control or drive us to wrong directions such as depression, disappointment, meaninglessness, emptiness, etc. Faith involves a constant struggle against all these forces. As long as our faith remains strong we can walk on water like Peter and face any storm. As soon as our faith becomes weak, we will begin to doubt whether the Lord will hold or not, though he says, “Come!” That is the time we begin to sink.

Faith is a total surrender of our life into the hands of the Lord, trusting his power. Our faith has to grow from doubting the presence of the Lord in trials to a total surrender to him. Jesus invites us to grow from our little and doubtful state of faith to one of confession and surrender. We lose trust in the power and goodness of the Lord when we face the darkness. We need deep faith to recognise the voice of the Lord who invites us to ‘come’ to him with his outstretched arms. Sometimes he invites us to venture into an unknown journey. When we doubt about the Lord’s trustworthiness, we may stumble like Peter. The Lord invites us to abandon ourselves into his arms just like a child.

We have to believe in the Lord’s power to calm the tempests of our life and cry to him, “Lord, save me” (14: 30)! When Peter saw the power of the mighty wind, he failed to see Jesus and trust in his superior power. Our faith remains strong as long as we fix your eyes firmly on Jesus. We need to admit that we are people of little faith like Peter (14:31), because when we see the strength of the storm we forget the power of the Lord over them. Thus we sink to the bottom of our trust. We have to grow from this little faith to a deeper faith of surrender of our whole life into the Lord’s hands. An experience of calmness after going through tempests leads us to confession and adoration of the Lord as our only Saviour (14:33).

We can distinguish between three aspects of faith: (1) faith-observance or faith-practice, (2) faith-knowledge, and (3) faith-surrender. The first one consists of following religious customs, traditions, rituals and practices like attending church on Sundays, receiving sacraments, observing religious feasts, attending novenas, wearing or displaying religious signs and images, keeping fasts, making sign of the cross, saying prayers known to us, etc. The second one consists of acquiring knowledge about our faith which we normally get through catechism (Sunday School) and other religious instructions including those we get during religious conferences, retreats, Sunday sermons or by personal reading. The third one consists of accepting God as the only Lord and Master of life, doing his will and allowing him to take us where he wants and do with us what he wants. This is the faith that leads to surrendering our entire life – all that we are and all that we have – into his hands. This aspect of faith can become very hard at times.

Many of us think that our faith consists of only first two sides. We go through all the religious practices and rituals without allowing our faith to influence our life – our attitudes, behaviour and action. Secondly, we may think we are strong in faith when we know answers to many questions on our religion or from the Bible. But it may remain only as knowledge in our heads or it may be used for religious debate/discourse. This head-level knowledge may not save us when our faith is severely tested due to storms of life mentioned above. Though we need to practice religious customs and rituals, and need to have sufficient knowledge of our faith, these things alone are not sufficient to face the power and strength of the winds that blow against us. Only when we offer our entire lives to God, put him in charge of our lives and permit him to do what he wants with us, we get the power to bear unbearable situations, to do what humanly speaking seems to be impossible, and to accept persons and situations as they are. Let us examine and see whether our faith includes this third and most important aspect. For that, we have to move from mere ‘religiosity’ (that is, limiting our faith only to practice of rituals) to cultivation of a personal spirituality that motivates us to say with an act of total surrender to God: “Do what you want with me Lord; I’m yours”.

5.    Response to God's Word

What are the trials, fears, doubts and evil forces that blow against our faith and threaten to sink it? Do we allow these forces to take control of us and rule over our minds or enslave us?  When we do not understand God’s ways and do not find solution to our problems, do we surrender our life into the hands of the Lord, trusting in his power? Do we make efforts to deepen our faith by going beyond ritual practices? Do we really believe that faith is such a great force that it can ‘move mountains’ and ‘uproot trees’ – that is, motivate us to face mountainous problems and uproot deeply rooted evil habits?

6.    A prayer

In full response to your love O Lord, I offer to you whatever I have and I am. Whatever I have is your gift to me, and whatever I am is my gift to you. Therefore, I lovingly and willingly return to you whatever you have given me, without any reserve. Take me where you want to take; give me what you want to give; lead me in your paths. Here am I Lord to do your will. Assure me Lord that I am in your loving care. Amen.