ARE WE SPENDING OUR TIME THINKING OF THE STORM WITHIN AND AROUND US?

How often do we find ourselves overwhelmed by our situation or by the world around us?   

Some of us spend a lot of our time worrying about the chaotic storms that are blowing all around us - the dysfunction within ourselves, dysfunction in our families, the dysfunction in our church,  the dysfunction in our politics, the dysfunction in the international scene... and we despair, and we sink, like Peter did...

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This post is an excerpt (with my re-arrangement of the learning points) from the Daily Rosary Meditation with Dr Mike Scherschligt (@ The School of Faith).  Please feel free to share.   https://www.dailyrosarymeditations.com/

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Matthew 14:23-33

When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. But immediately he spoke to them, saying, “Take heart, it is I; have no fear.”

And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “O man of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

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What did Peter do wrong?

He had initial faith.  It was an incredible act of trust that Peter walked out on water in the middle of a storm, just because Jesus told him he could.  

But as soon as Peter turned his focus away from Christ to the storm, the water that supported him like a solid floor, gives way right under him.

If we focus on the storm around us, we will sink.  

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What is our goal here on earth?

We are not here to worry about the political, or economic, or ecclesial storms that blow here or there, this way or that. 

We’re not even fundamentally down here to wring our hands about every up and down our family members or friends experience.

We are here to get closer to Christ.  That is what our life is for. 

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Peter stepped off that boat because He trusted Christ. He knew he could count on Christ. But he forgot about Christ’s power, Peter forgot that Christ was in control, when he started paying too much attention to the turbulence in the world around him.

If that starts happening to us, if we start to despair, get anxious, or feel like everything’s getting out of control, then we do what Peter did. Cry out to Jesus and say, “Lord, save me!”

Remember that the storm is a distraction from Jesus and what Jesus wants us to do. When we find ourselves distracted by a storm, turn our attention back to Jesus in prayer and get busy doing what He wants you to do. 

Do not pay attention to the storm. It’s just a distraction, nothing more. 

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Keep our focus on Christ and what He’s asking us to do.

We can keep becoming more Christ-like, progressing in virtue, in holiness, in prayer. 

Keep putting one foot in front of the other, until we reach the Lord. 

At the end of the day, that’s all that matters.