by Faith Central & Steve Welsh
“… For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son,
so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish
but might have Eternal Life.
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world,
but that the world might be Saved through Him.”
“Jesus departed to the mountain to pray,
and He spent the night in prayer to God.
When day came, He called His Disciples to Himself,
and from them he chose Twelve, whom He also named Apostles ….”
“‘… Amen, I say to you,
if two of you agree on earth
about anything for which they are to pray,
it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name,
there am I in the midst of them.'”
“… At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to Him.
He laid his hands on each of them and cured them.
And demons also came out from many, shouting, ‘You are the Son of God.’
But He rebuked them and did not allow them to speak
because they knew that He was the Christ.
At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place.
The crowds went looking for Him, and when they came to Him,
they tried to prevent Him from leaving them.
But He said to them, ‘To the other towns also
I must proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God,
because for this purpose I have been sent.’ …”
“… Jesus said to her in reply,
‘O woman, great is your faith!
Let it be done for you as you wish.’
And the woman’s daughter was healed from that hour.”
“While Jesus was speaking,
a woman from the crowd called out and said to Him,
‘Blessed is the womb that carried you
and the breasts at which you nursed.’
He replied,
‘Rather, blessed are those
who hear the word of God and observe it.'”
“… Father Kolbe’s death was not a sudden, last-minute act of heroism. His whole life had been a preparation. His holiness was a limitless, passionate desire to convert the whole world to God. And his beloved Immaculata was his inspiration. …”
“As Jesus and His Disciples were gathering in Galilee,
Jesus said to them,
‘The Son of Man is to be handed over to men,
and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.’
And they were overwhelmed with grief. …”
“… Nonetheless Jesus reassured them: ‘Take heart, it is I; have no fear’ (v. 27). This is an episode from which the Fathers of the Church drew a great wealth of meaning. The sea symbolizes this life and the instability of the visible world; the storm points to every kind of trial or difficulty that oppresses human beings. The boat, instead, represents the Church, built by Christ and steered by the Apostles.
Jesus wanted to teach the disciples to bear life’s adversities courageously, trusting in God, in the One who revealed himself to the Prophet Elijah on Mount Horeb “in a still small voice” [the whispering of a gentle breeze] (1 Kings 19:12). …”
“The Gospel today is about faith and about focus. It teaches that although storms and struggles inevitably arise, we have a choice as to whether we focus on them or on Jesus. The message is clear: “Keep your eyes on the prize. Hold on!”
Let’s look at this Gospel in three stages: Perceived Distance, Produced Distress, and Point of Decision. I have also included a fourth section for more in-depth study: Process of Development. …”