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19^th Sunday in Ordinary Time —Year A

Fr. Jijo Kandamkulathy CMF

 甘天霖神父

Gospel: Matthew 14:22-33

A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew,

Glory to you, O Lord!

Then he made the disciples get into the 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 him, 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."

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ.

Homily: FAITH MATURES IN MOMENTS OF CRISIS

It was the night immediately after the multiplication of the bread. Jesus kind of bundles them up in a boat and sends them to the other shore. He himself "climbs the mountain" alone, moves away from the crowds and definitely enters the world of God. This is why the disciples find themselves in the dark and in a stormy sea. Darkness is the image of disorientation, doubt that captures even the most convinced believer. At times, even one who is driven by a strong faith feels alone.

The waters in the Old Testament were an image describing the forces that lead to death. The Israelites were always afraid of the waters. Only the Lord, they said, is not afraid of whirlwinds and storms. He alone can hush the billows to silent waves (Ps 107:25-30), and he is the only one who "treads on the waves of the sea" (Job 9:8).

If one keeps in mind this symbolism, one understands the fear of the disciples. They fear of being overwhelmed by the forces of evil and death. The boat was tossed about by the waves. The violent waves are the necessary tests the disciples have to undergo if they want to get out of it mature.

Towards the end of the night there appears Jesus, walking on the waves of the sea, as only God is capable of doing. The disciples do not recognize him. Their reaction is really strange. What happened? Why don’t they recognize him?

Matthew is describing in biblical language the situation of the Christian communities of his time. They were "tormented" by many trials, distressed by doubts, and above all disoriented by the fact of not having the Master visibly with them, who would have infused safety and courage in them. 

The evangelist wants to enlighten them. Jesus is always close to his disciples, even to the end of the world, as he has promised (Mt 28:20) but not physically. It's not easy to be aware of his presence. He becomes recognizable only with the eyes of faith.

The second part of the passage contains the dialogue between Jesus and Peter. It starts with the request of the Apostle, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” The symbolic meaning of the request of Peter is this: Peter, the first of the disciples, beholds the Master—the Risen One, who crossed the waters of death, now walking on the sea—is in God's world. Peter knows he is called to follow him in the gift of life, but death scares him. He fears of not succeeding and asks the Lord to give him strength.

As long as he keeps his eyes fixed on the Master, he is able to go to him. When his faith diminishes, when he begins to doubt the choice he made, he sinks and is afraid of being overwhelmed, of losing his life. It is true also for every Christian.

证道：信德在危机时刻走向成熟，定睛于基督永怀希望！

事情发生在增饼奇迹之后的夜晚。耶稣强迫他们上船，并遣送他们到对岸。耶稣自己则“独自上山”，离开群众，决然地进入天主的世界。这就是为何门徒们发现自身处于黑暗和海上的暴风雨中。黑暗是迷失方向的比喻，即使是最忠信的信徒也难逃怀疑的萦绕。有时候，即使被坚强信德驱使的人也会感到孤独。

水在旧约中，是描绘导向死亡的势力象征。以色列人一直很惧怕大水。他们说，只有上主毫不惧怕旋风和暴风雨。唯有上主自己能够化风暴为平静（咏107：25-30），也只有上主“步行在海波之上”（约9：8）。

如果你记得这个象征，就会明白门徒们的惧怕。他们害怕被邪恶和死亡的势力所淹没。他们的船被风浪所猛甩。如果门徒们想要成熟地脱离，狂暴的风浪是门徒们必需经历的考验。

深夜接近尾声之际，耶稣出现了，步行于海浪之上，只有天主才有能力如此行事。门徒们却并未认出耶稣。他们的反应很是奇怪。到底发生了什么呢？他们为何没有认出祂呢？

圣史玛窦是在用圣经的语言来描绘他那个时期的基督徒团体的处境。他们被很多考验所“折磨”，被疑虑所困扰，最重要的是他们看不到主耶稣可见地与他们同在，从而迷失了方向，因为主耶稣会给他们内注入安全和勇气。

圣史想要借此启迪他们。耶稣一直亲近门徒们，甚至到世界的末日亦然，正如他曾许诺的（玛28：20），却不是肉体上的同在。意识到祂的临在，并不是容易的事情，只有藉着信德的眼光才能认出祂来。

福音的第二部分包含了耶稣与伯多禄的对话，以宗徒的要求开始：“主！如果是你，就叫我在水面上步行到你那里罢！”伯多禄的要求有这样的象征意义：伯多禄，宗徒之首看到了主耶稣——复活者，穿越了死亡之水，现今在海面上行走——是在天主的世界中。伯多禄知道自己被召叫在生命的恩赐中跟随耶稣，却被死亡吓到了。他害怕失败，所以恳求上主赐予他力量。

只要他定睛于主，就能够走向祂。当他的信德减少时，当他开始怀疑自己做的选择时，他就会下沉，害怕被淹没，害怕失去自己的生命。为每个基督徒来说，这也是很真实的经验。

文本来源：雅颂福传

译者：Fr.James