ROW, ROW, ROW YOUR BOAT

Today's Gospel reading is the passage from Mark 6:45-52 - Jesus walks on water

Fr Michael Payyapilly from the Holy Family Church in Doveton, Australia gave a homily that resonates so much with me, affirming the disposition and approach to adopt as we take our problems to our Father in prayer.

I have transcribed his homily here, and also sharing the link on You-tube at the end of this transcription. 

Homily by Rev Fr Michael Payyapilly
Holy Family Church, Daveton Australia
5 Jan 2022

The nursery rhyme goes, "Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream.  Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream!"

This cannot be further away from what the apostles were facing.  They were rowing and rowing and they were getting nowhere. The wind was against them, they struggled.

A perfect reflection of how we very often live our lives

What the apostles encountered is a perfect reflection of how we often live our lives.  We row, and we row and we row.  We try, and we try, and we try, and sometimes we get nowhere.  

We feel everything seems to be against us - situations seem to be against us.  People seem to be against us.  Health seems to be against us.  Finance seems to be against us.  The world seems to be against us.   

And we keep rowing and rowing and we get no where.

We may think that Jesus could have chosen other ways to get there

It is interesting that when the apostles were in that situation, Jesus came walking on water.  

As if rowing and getting no where were not enough, Jesus was now scaring them.  They were terrified.  They thought it was a ghost there were seeing.  Jesus told them "Do not be afraid, it is I." And then he entered into the boat.

Why didn't he choose something that is more acceptable, more digestible.  Instead he chose to walk on water.

How he gets into the boat is up to him

The reality is that it is not about how he chooses.  It is about Jesus getting into the boat.   How he gets into the boat is up to him.  

All we need is to always pray "Lord please get into the boat.  How you get into the boat, Jesus, is left up to you.  How you find solutions, Jesus, is left up to you."

God will choose whatever way he wants.  As long as he gets into the boat, we just need to be happy.  How he gets into the boat is not up to us.

How often do we give solutions to God

Very often in our life journey when we are rowing and rowing, not only are we complaining that we are rowing, but we also give solutions to God and we tell Him, This is how I want it."  

How often do we give a problem and we give a solution, as though God is not wise enough to choose his own solutions.

His ways are not our ways, his thoughts are not our thoughts

His ways are different, maybe it will frighten us, it will challenge us, it may be difficult. 

Today's scripture tells us His ways are different, His thoughts are different.  Isaiah 55:8 says "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord".

Are we limiting God's wisdom

In Job 11:7 - Can you find out the deep things of God?  Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?"

When we give solutions to God for our problems, we are limiting God's wisdom, limiting his actions.  This is something we always need to be very careful about.  

"Lord, let me never limit your actions. All I am praying unto you Lord is that you enter into my boat.  How you get there I completely leave to you."  

Are we arrogant to be God's counselor

In Rom 11:33-34 "O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge to God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways.  For who has known the mind of the Lord?  Or who has been his counselor?"

Let us not be too arrogant to be God's counselor.  Let's not be people who give God solutions, and at the same time want him into the boat.  If he is going to come into the boat, he is going to come in his own way.  As long as he comes in, let's find satisfaction.

"Lord Jesus we believe that life is never just a dream.  Its tough, at times we keep rowing and rowing.  We are exhausted.  At times we are broken and we want to give u s.  Give us the grace Lord Jesus, to have that prayer in our heart all the time, Jesus enter into my boat. How you do it Lord, and when you do it, we will not question. We leave it to your great wisdom. You enter the boat, Lord, the way you deem fit.  Amen."

Link to homily on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4Gwc_CMlGo

 (at timeline 22:22 - 29:51)