Daily Gospel Reflection for August 4, 2020

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Reflection by Kerri Baunach

Today's Gospel: Matthew 14:22-36 - Memorial of St. John Vianney

In Matthew’s account of Jesus walking on the water and calling Peter to do the same, I see an analogy to the priesthood and the difficulties priests face today. The high winds, like the secular world around us, tosses us, tries to throw us out of the boat (the Church), and creates doubt in our hearts. Through this mayhem, Peter and the other apostles are frightened by a figure on the water. The wind is already against them and now there is a ghost! But no, a voice tells them to “Take courage.” Amazingly, Peter asks the Lord to command him to come to Him. Peter’s request astounds me! Why would he want to step out of the boat? Why, when the winds are so high and tossing the boat around so much, would he want to risk his life?

The priest shortage in our country and in many places around the world, is not a result of God not calling men, but a result of young men not hearing that call. The winds of the world around us can smother or distract from God’s calling. I imagine Peter had a hard time hearing Jesus through the noise of the strong winds. The wind has a way of carrying sounds off in different directions. But he does hear and he comes.

He trusts Jesus, initially; then fear and doubt creep in, and Jesus has to save him. Living a life of faith often swings between trust and doubt with the secular winds often trying to push us out of the Church. We need to pray for more young men to hear God’s call and to trust, despite their fears or doubts, that Jesus will always be by their side.

Living a life of faith often swings between trust and doubt, with the secular winds trying to push us out of the Church. #dailygospel

Ponder:

When have I felt doubt and fear and allowed the world to distract me from Jesus and Mother Church? What has helped to make me “take courage” and follow Jesus?

Pray:

Lord Jesus, keep calling our young people to religious and priestly vocations. May Your voice penetrate through the confusing world surrounding our young people. St. John Vianney, pray for us!

Copyright 2020 Kerri Baunach

Kerri Baunach lives in Lexington, KY with her husband and three boys. She’s a Benedictine Oblate with the Archabbey of St. Meinrad in Indiana, heads up the Vocations Ministry at her parish, and is a former writer and editor at CatholicSistas.com.