19th Week in Ordinary Times : Sunday, 9th August 2026

The account of Jesus inviting Peter to walk on the water towards Him must make one wonder how it was that Peter was afraid of the strong wind and the possibility of drowning? As a fisherman, were not he and his companions used to these sea conditions?

The answer lies not in the lack of knowledge, expertise or experience. It lies in the question of faith and on whom this faith is placed – in the self or in God? The disciples knew better than to ask Jesus for anything beyond what He had already given them – His leadership, teaching and miracles , and most of all, His promise of the coming of the kingdom of God, however rightly or wrongly they perceived it. Fishing is their expertise but they find themselves outmatched in the midst of the tempest.

It is at this point that Jesus displays His divine mastery over nature and the invitation to Peter to embrace a logic-defying faith instead of one grounded in common sense and human reasoning – the one a fisherman, like any other human person, would employ. It would be foolish for us to imagine that we can understand God completely.

While faith goes with reason – fides et ratio – there will come points in our lives when our faith must simply rest on trust, surrender to the divine will and to declare with the disciples, “Truly, You are the Son of God.”

PRAYER Lord Jesus, I trust in You.