Jesus Walks On Water

APRIL 22, 2023 SATURDAY 
Saturday of the Second Week of Easter (White)
CYCLE A - YEAR I
Lectionary: 272

Reading I
Acts 6:1-7

As the number of disciples continued to grow,
the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews
because their widows
were being neglected in the daily distribution.
So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said,
“It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table.
Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men,
filled with the Spirit and wisdom,
whom we shall appoint to this task,
whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer
and to the ministry of the word.”
The proposal was acceptable to the whole community,
so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit,
also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas,
and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism.
They presented these men to the Apostles
who prayed and laid hands on them.
The word of God continued to spread,
and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly;
even a large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith.

Responsorial Psalm
33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19

R.        (22)  Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
or:
R.        Alleluia.

Exult, you just, in the LORD;
            praise from the upright is fitting.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
            with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises.

R.        Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
or:
R.        Alleluia.

Upright is the word of the LORD,
            and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
            of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.

R.        Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
or:
R.        Alleluia.

See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
            upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
            and preserve them in spite of famine.

R.        Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
or:
R.        Alleluia.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Christ is risen, who made all things;
he has shown mercy on all people.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Jn 6:16-21

When it was evening, the disciples of Jesus went down to the sea,
embarked in a boat, and went across the sea to Capernaum.
It had already grown dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.
The sea was stirred up because a strong wind was blowing.
When they had rowed about three or four miles,
they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat,
and they began to be afraid.
But he said to them, “It is I. Do not be afraid.”
They wanted to take him into the boat,
but the boat immediately arrived at the shore
to which they were heading.

GOSPEL REFLECTION: 

“It is I; do not be afraid.” These words of Jesus about fear can be a mantra or a chorus of our lives. In all the different anxieties, they are spoken to us. The disciples heard them and remembered them on many occasions. These words, ‘It is I, do not be afraid' are words which Jesus is speaking to each of us, all of the time.

PRAYER:

Lord, I am written in your heart. Even when I forget you in my struggle to survive, you do not forget me.

Jesus Walks On The Water

AUGUST 02, 2022, TUESDAY

Tuesday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time (Green)

Optional Memorial of Saint Eusebius of Vercelli, Bishop (White)

Optional Memorial of Saint Peter Julian Eymard, Priest (White)

CYCLE C - YEAR II

Lectionary: 408

Reading 1 

JER 30:1-2, 12-15, 18-22

The following message came to Jeremiah from the LORD:

For thus says the LORD, the God of Israel:

Write all the words I have spoken to you in a book.

For thus says the LORD:

Incurable is your wound,

grievous your bruise;

There is none to plead your cause,

no remedy for your running sore,

no healing for you.

All your lovers have forgotten you,

they do not seek you.

I struck you as an enemy would strike,

punished you cruelly;

Why cry out over your wound?

your pain is without relief.

Because of your great guilt,

your numerous sins,

I have done this to you.

Thus says the LORD:

See!  I will restore the tents of Jacob,

his dwellings I will pity;

City shall be rebuilt upon hill,

and palace restored as it was.

From them will resound songs of praise,

the laughter of happy men.

I will make them not few, but many;

they will not be tiny, for I will glorify them.

His sons shall be as of old,

his assembly before me shall stand firm;

I will punish all his oppressors.

His leader shall be one of his own,

and his rulers shall come from his kin.

When I summon him, he shall approach me;

how else should one take the deadly risk

of approaching me? says the LORD.

You shall be my people,

and I will be your God.

Responsorial Psalm

PS 102:16-18, 19-21, 29 AND 22-23

R. (17)  The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.

The nations shall revere your name, O LORD,

and all the kings of the earth your glory,

When the LORD has rebuilt Zion

and appeared in his glory;

When he has regarded the prayer of the destitute,

and not despised their prayer.

R. The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.

Let this be written for the generation to come,

and let his future creatures praise the LORD:

“The LORD looked down from his holy height,

from heaven he beheld the earth,

To hear the groaning of the prisoners,

to release those doomed to die.”

R. The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.

The children of your servants shall abide,

and their posterity shall continue in your presence,

That the name of the LORD may be declared on Zion;

and his praise, in Jerusalem,

When the peoples gather together

and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.

R. The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.

Alleluia 

JN 1:49B

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Rabbi, you are the Son of God;

you are the King of Israel.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

MT 14:22-36

Jesus made the disciples get into a boat

and precede him to the other side of the sea,

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.”

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.”

After making the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret.

When the men of that place recognized him,

they sent word to all the surrounding country.

People brought to him all those who were sick

and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak,

and as many as touched it were healed.

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

The disciples in their later trials would have remembered what happened next on the lake; how Jesus reached out and caught the drowning Peter; how he got into their boat and how somehow his presence made the wind die down. Jesus does the same for you, but less dramatically.

PRAYER:

In these moments of prayer, today bring those things in life that cause you to lose sight of Jesus and to sink. He is waiting for you to call out to him and to help restore calm in your life.

Jesus Walks On The Water

JANUARY 05, 2022, WEDNESDAY
WEDNESDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
Memorial of Saint John Neumann, Bishop (White)
CYCLE C - YEAR II
Lectionary: 214

Reading I
1 Jn 4:11-18

Beloved, if God so loved us,

we also must love one another.

No one has ever seen God.

Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us,

and his love is brought to perfection in us.

This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us,

that he has given us of his Spirit.

Moreover, we have seen and testify

that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world.

Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,

God remains in him and he in God.

We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us.

God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him.

In this is love brought to perfection among us,

that we have confidence on the day of judgment

because as he is, so are we in this world.

There is no fear in love,

but perfect love drives out fear

because fear has to do with punishment,

and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love.

Responsorial Psalm
72:1-2, 10, 12-13

R.        (see 11)  Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

O God, with your judgment endow the king,

            and with your justice, the king’s son;

He shall govern your people with justice

            and your afflicted ones with judgment.

R.        Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts;

            the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute.

R.        Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,

            and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.

He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;

            the lives of the poor he shall save.

R.        Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Alleluia
See 1 Tm 3:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Glory to you, O Christ, proclaimed to the Gentiles.

Glory to you, O Christ, believed in throughout the world.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Mk 6:45-52

After the five thousand had eaten and were satisfied,

Jesus made his disciples get into the boat

and precede him to the other side toward Bethsaida,

while he dismissed the crowd. 

And when he had taken leave of them,

he went off to the mountain to pray. 

When it was evening,

the boat was far out on the sea and he was alone on shore. 

Then he saw that they were tossed about while rowing,

for the wind was against them. 

About the fourth watch of the night,

he came toward them walking on the sea. 

He meant to pass by them.  

But when they saw him walking on the sea,

they thought it was a ghost and cried out. 

They had all seen him and were terrified. 

But at once he spoke with them,

“Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!” 

He got into the boat with them and the wind died down. 

They were completely astounded. 

They had not understood the incident of the loaves. 

On the contrary, their hearts were hardened.

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

For now, in your prayer, how would you praise Jesus? What do you like about him? Praise and prayer go together.

PRAYER:

The disciples were fortunate: living with and listening to Jesus. Yet something prevented them from receiving this message in their hearts. I, too, live with many blessings: I pray that they not be hidden from me or that I become ungrateful. Help me, Lord, to appreciate your presence.

Jesus Walks On The Water

August 03, 2021, Tuesday
Tuesday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time (Green)
CYCLE B - YEAR I
Lectionary: 408

Reading I
Nm 12:1-13

Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses on the pretext
of the marriage he had contracted with a Cushite woman.
They complained, “Is it through Moses alone that the LORD speaks?
Does he not speak through us also?”
And the LORD heard this.
Now, Moses himself was by far the meekest man on the face of the earth.
So at once the LORD said to Moses and Aaron and Miriam,
“Come out, you three, to the meeting tent.”
And the three of them went.
Then the LORD came down in the column of cloud,
and standing at the entrance of the tent,
called Aaron and Miriam.
When both came forward, he said,
“Now listen to the words of the LORD:
Should there be a prophet among you,
in visions will I reveal myself to him,
in dreams will I speak to him;
not so with my servant Moses!
Throughout my house he bears my trust:
face to face I speak to him;
plainly and not in riddles.
The presence of the LORD he beholds.
Why, then, did you not fear to speak against my servant Moses?”
So angry was the LORD against them that when he departed,
and the cloud withdrew from the tent,
there was Miriam, a snow-white leper!
When Aaron turned and saw her a leper, he said to Moses,
“Ah, my lord! Please do not charge us with the sin
that we have foolishly committed!
Let her not thus be like the stillborn babe
that comes forth from its mother’s womb
with its flesh half consumed.”
Then Moses cried to the LORD, “Please, not this! Pray, heal her!”

Responsorial Psalm
51:3-4, 5-6ab, 6cd-7, 12-13

R. (see 3a) Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.

R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

For I acknowledge my offense;
and my sin is before me always:
“Against you only have I sinned;
and done what is evil in your sight.”

R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

That you may be justified in your sentence,
vindicated when you condemn.
Indeed, in guilt was I born,
and in sin my mother conceived me.

R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not off from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.

R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Alleluia
Jn 1:49b

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Rabbi, you are the Son of God;
you are the King of Israel.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL
Mt 14:22-36

Jesus made the disciples get into a boat
and precede him to the other side of the sea,
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.”
After making the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret.
When the men of that place recognized him,
they sent word to all the surrounding country.
People brought to him all those who were sick
and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak,
and as many as touched it were healed.

REFLECTION:

The disciples in their later trials would have remembered what happened next on the lake; how Jesus reached out and caught the drowning Peter; how he got into their boat and how somehow his presence made the wind die down. Jesus does the same for you, but less dramatically.

PRAYER:

In these moments of prayer, today bring those things in life that cause you to lose sight of Jesus and to sink. He is waiting for you to call out to him and to help restore calm in your life.

Jesus Walks on the Water

April 17, 2021, Saturday
Saturday of the Second Week of Easter (White)
CYCLE B - YEAR I
Lectionary: 272

Reading I
Acts 6:1-7

As the number of disciples continued to grow,
the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews
because their widows 
were being neglected in the daily distribution.
So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said,
“It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table.
Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men,
filled with the Spirit and wisdom,
whom we shall appoint to this task,
whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer
and to the ministry of the word.”
The proposal was acceptable to the whole community,
so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit,
also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas,
and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism.
They presented these men to the Apostles
who prayed and laid hands on them.
The word of God continued to spread,
and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly;
even a large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith.

Responsorial Psalm
33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19

R.    (22)  Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

or:

R.    Alleluia.

Exult, you just, in the LORD;
    praise from the upright is fitting.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
    with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises.

R.    (22)  Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

or:

R.    Alleluia.

Upright is the word of the LORD,
    and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
    of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.

R.    (22)  Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

or:

R.    Alleluia.

See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
    upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
    and preserve them in spite of famine.

R.    (22)  Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

or:

R.    Alleluia.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Christ is risen, who made all things;
he has shown mercy on all people.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

 

GOSPEL
Jn 6:16-21

When it was evening, the disciples of Jesus went down to the sea,
embarked in a boat, and went across the sea to Capernaum.
It had already grown dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.
The sea was stirred up because a strong wind was blowing.
When they had rowed about three or four miles,
they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat,
and they began to be afraid.
But he said to them, “It is I. Do not be afraid.”
They wanted to take him into the boat,
but the boat immediately arrived at the shore
to which they were heading.

REFLECTION:

The disciples had often made this journey with Jesus. Now, traveling on their own on the agitated sea, they realized that Jesus was with them still; they experienced his care for them. I am reminded that I am never alone, especially in times of struggle or disorientation.

PRAYER:

Lord, I am written in your heart. Even when I forget you in my struggle to survive, you do not forget me.