StChrisChWP

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be always acceptable in thy sight O Lord, our Strength and our Redeemer. Amen.

“Love god with all your heart
And with all your mind
And with all your soul”

To many of us, it might feel like a tough command to respond to when we are inclined to love, above all, worldly things or if we haven’t matured in our spiritual life.

In last week’s gospel, Jesus called peter “a rock” and he said: “on this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”. Today, peter states an impulsive response to the devastating news that Jesus – his lord, his friend, healer and teacher must go to Jerusalem to suffer, be killed and be raised. Now, the tables are turned: Jesus confronts peter and tells him: “go behind me, Satan” when peter reproaches him with fear and denial.

Today’s story of Jesus walking on water happened over 2,000 years ago. It involves the apostles watching “a ghost or a miracle”, but miracles aren’t necessarily confined to biblical times they can happen in 2023. At that time, Jesus followers had witnessed, the raising from the dead of Lazarus and Jairus’ daughter, the healing of lepers, casting out demons, feeding the five thousand and more.

Very often Jesus told a parable whenever he preached a sermon. He was a master storyteller unlike those pharisees who quoted the bible all the time.