LORD, INCREASE MY FAITH—SAVE ME
Introduction
It is regrettable that the Lectionary has omitted that part of the remark of Jesus that gives the foundation of this episode: “Why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?” Jesus redefines the true understanding of purity. One is pure not because of ritual ablutions but because of one’s fidelity to God’s law. Human traditions that obstruct God’s law should be abolished. After all, it is the spirit of the law that counts, not the letter.
Opening Prayer
Father, God of the everlasting covenant,
you have tied us to yourself
with leading strings of lasting love;
the words you speak to us
are spirit and life.
Open our hearts to your word,
that they may touch us
in the deepest of ourselves.
May they move us to serve you
not in a slavish way,
but as your sons and daughters
who love you and whom you have set free
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen!
1 Reading: Numbers 12:1-13;
Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses on the pretext of the Cushite woman he had married; for he had in fact married a Cushite woman. They complained, “Is it through Moses alone that the LORD has spoken? Has he not spoken through us also?” And the LORD heard this. Now the man Moses was very humble, more than anyone else on earth. So at once the LORD said to Moses and Aaron and Miriam: Come out, you three, to the tent of meeting. And the three of them went. Then the LORD came down in a column of cloud, and standing at the entrance of the tent, called, “Aaron and Miriam.” When both came forward, the LORD said: Now listen to my words: If there are prophets among you, in visions I reveal myself to them, in dreams I speak to them; Not so with my servant Moses! Throughout my house he is worthy of trust: face to face I speak to him, plainly and not in riddles. The likeness of the LORD he beholds. Why, then, do you not fear to speak against my servant Moses? And so the LORD’s wrath flared against them, and he departed. Now the cloud withdrew from the tent, and there was Miriam, stricken with a scaly infection, white as snow! When Aaron turned toward Miriam and saw her stricken with snow-white scales, he said to Moses, “Ah, my lord! Please do not charge us with the sin that we have foolishly committed! Do not let her be like the stillborn baby that comes forth from its mother’s womb with its flesh half consumed.” Then Moses cried to the LORD, “Please, not this! Please, heal her!”
Responsorial Psalm 51:3-4,5-6ab,6cd-7,12-13
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Have mercy on me, God, in accord with your merciful love;
in your abundant compassion blot out my transgressions.
Thoroughly wash away my guilt;
and from my sin cleanse me. R.
For I know my transgressions;
my sin is always before me.
Against you, you alone have I sinned;
I have done what is evil in your eyes
So that you are just in your word,
and without reproach in your judgment. R.
Against you, you alone have I sinned;
I have done what is evil in your eyes
So that you are just in your word,
and without reproach in your judgment.
Behold, I was born in guilt,
in sin my mother conceived me. R.
A clean heart create for me, God;
renew within me a steadfast spirit.
Do not drive me from before your face,
nor take from me your holy spirit. R.
Alleluia: John 1:49b
Alleluia, alleluia
Rabbi, you are the Son of God;
you are the King of Israel.
Alleluia, alleluia
Gospel: Matthew 14:22-36
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.” 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.
Commentary
In today’s readings we see the effects of a lack of faith. As the sea becomes rougher and Jesus is sighted, Peter is told to leave the boat and walk to Jesus on the water. He begins steadily enough, but in the face of the strong wind, he wavers and begins to sink. It was for arguing and complaining against Moses that Aaron and Miriam are faulted and Miriam is struck with leprosy.
It is all too easy to strike a position by which our faith remains largely undisturbed, unchallenged. We follow a contented middle way of comfortable belief, not walking on water, perhaps, but at least not sinking. We must continually strive to strengthen our faith.
Why not participate in one of the many forms of apostolate that are present in the church today, all valid expressions of faith? We should work to help the faith of others. And then there is the added responsibility of educating our children in the faith. This is not something we can simply turn over to religious educators. The values of faith have to appear in our own lives; parents are the first to form children as Christians.
It is faith that saves, says St. Paul, and it is a vibrant and lively faith of which he speaks. Jesus speaks of it often and explicitly states the role it plays in the healings that he performs. We seldom reflect on faith in our lives when, in fact, our constant prayer should be, “Lord, increase my faith!”
Intentions
– For the Church, that it may not replace the Gospel with rites and laws of human invention but bring to people the freedom, the gentleness and the light of Christ, we pray:
– For those who do not know Christ, that they may discover God’s law written in their hearts and find salvation by the integrity of their lives and the love of their neighbor, we pray:
– For all who share in the Lord’s table, that they may learn from Jesus that love is the heart of the law and that true love knows how to serve, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God,
we bring before you our readiness
to respond to your love.
Strengthen us with the body and blood
of your Son, Jesus Christ,
that with him, we may be dedicated to you
with our whole mind and heart,
and that we may be capable
of communicating your love and justice
to all those around us.
Grant this through Christ, our Lord. Amen!
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God,
your Son has shared himself with us
in this Eucharistic celebration.
Gives us his Spirit of discernment,
that we may also share in his attitude
of openness to your will
and to the needs of people.
May we thus, fulfill more than the law
and serve you as your free sons and daughters,
in whom you recognize Jesus Christ,
your Son and our Lord for ever. Amen!
Blessing
Let us put our hearts into seeking in the commandments not our whims and will but the will of God himself. May God’s Spirit give you this wise insight and may God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!