Tuesday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Today we have many threads coming together. The Church - especially in Rome - celebrates the memorial of the Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major. We are more familiar now with this church since it is the burial site of our late Pope Francis who often chose to pray in front of an icon of Mary there. In his description, “The child holds the Holy Book with his left hand and blesses with his right; and the first one to be blessed is his mother, blessed among all women.” Jesus - even as a child, offers his blessing.
In the scriptures today, we have the Gospel of Peter walking on the water. But the fact of this (minor?) miracle is not nearly as important as its critical lesson. Peter sinks when he notices the wind around him - when he takes his eyes off of Jesus. We are challenged to keep focused on the face of Jesus. And in the times in which we live, this is an important discipline. Aaron and Miriam in the first reading are chastised for their jealousy and tendency toward sibling rivalry. They lose their attention to the fact that Moses is someone who keeps his face turned to God. I think the message of all of these threads is to keep our eyes on Jesus, no matter what is threatening to draw our attention away. Expect grace and blessing, and be people of hope.
—Sr. Laura Leming, FMI