Homily for Tuesday of the 18th Week in Ordinary Time

In our Gospel reading today, Peter calls out to Jesus, asking Him to invite him to walk on the water. Jesus calls to Peter, and he steps out onto the water. However, when Peter becomes fearful, he begins to sink. He immediately cries out to Jesus, who catches him and brings him to safety.

What caused Peter to sink was not fear itself, but doubt. He doubted the ability God had given him to perform this remarkable feat, as well as the reality of the miracle taking place. Despite his doubt, Peter displayed wisdom by calling out to Jesus the moment he began to sink.

Today's Gospel teaches us about having faith in God and in ourselves when He calls us to take action. It's about believing that we can accomplish the tasks God sets before us in life. This includes living out the Gospel by preaching the Good News of our salvation, forgiving others who have wronged us, feeding the hungry, providing shelter and clothing to the homeless, comforting the sick, visiting and offering hope to prisoners, and standing firm in our faith in the face of ridicule and scorn.

These are the actions Jesus calls us to take, and we have been given the ability to carry them out. It requires confidence and faith to truly live the Gospel in our lives. However, there will be times when we may sense we lack these qualities. In those moments, may we emulate Peter's wisdom by turning to Jesus and seeking His help, so that He can reassure us and extend His hand to keep us from sinking.