The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to confront the jealousy, sense of separation, and turbulence in our lives that inhibit our acceptance of Jesus' invitation to escape drowning in our sea of distractions.
The Reading from the Book of Numbers reveals the Jealousy of Aaron and Miriam.
* [12:1] Cushite woman: apparently Zipporah, the Midianite, is meant; cf. Ex 2:21.
* [12:2] The apparent reason for Miriam’s and Aaron’s quarrel with their brother Moses was jealousy of his authority; his Cushite wife served only as an occasion for the dispute.
* [12:7] Worthy of trust: the text is open to a variety of interpretations. Thus, the word of Moses may be relied upon by Israel because God speaks to him directly; or, Moses alone is worthy of God’s trust in God’s household (heavenly or earthly). An alternative translation, however, is: “with all my house he is entrusted.”
* [12:10] Stricken with a scaly infection, white as snow: see note on Lv 13:1–14:47. The point of the simile lies either in the flakiness or the whiteness of snow. (Numbers, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 51 is a lament over sin.
* [Psalm 51] A lament, the most famous of the seven Penitential Psalms, prays for the removal of the personal and social disorders that sin has brought. The poem has two parts of approximately equal length: Ps 51:3–10 and Ps 51:11–19, and a conclusion in Ps 51:20–21. (Psalms, PSALM 51 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus rescues Peter Walking on the Water.
* [14:22–33] The disciples, laboring against the turbulent sea, are saved by Jesus. For his power over the waters, see note on Mt 8:26. Here that power is expressed also by his walking on the sea (Mt 14:25; cf. Ps 77:20; Jb 9:8). Matthew has inserted into the Marcan story (Mk 6:45–52) material that belongs to his special traditions on Peter (Mt 14:28–31).
* [14:25] The fourth watch of the night: between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. The Romans divided the twelve hours between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. into four equal parts called “watches.”
* [14:27] It is I: see note on Mk 6:50.
* [14:31] You of little faith: see note on Mt 6:30. Why did you doubt?: the verb is peculiar to Matthew and occurs elsewhere only in Mt 28:17.
* [14:33] This confession is in striking contrast to the Marcan parallel (Mk 6:51) where the disciples are “completely astounded.” (Matthew, CHAPTER 14 | USCCB, n.d.)
Becky Nickerson would like to think that if Jesus commanded her to walk out on the water to Him that she would jump out of that boat and run across the water and jump into His arms. But would she? Or, like Peter, would she allow a bit of doubt to sink in and cause her to hesitate?
Even when our belief is strong, our faith sometimes falters. Perhaps our past experiences, discomfort with the unknown, or our mere brokenness as humans can lead to a sense of hesitancy in our connection with Christ. A hesitancy that could even possibly be perceived as a sense of distrust.
The Gospel goes on to paint a beautifully reassuring picture: Peter called out to the Lord to be saved, and “immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him.” What a grace! I extend an invitation to pray today with the vision of Christ crouching with arms wide open, ready to wrap us up in unconditional love. And as we run to that embrace, hair bouncing, smiling and giggling, even when we hesitate (or even trip), take comfort in knowing that Christ will stretch even further and catch us. (Nickerson, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Welcoming the Lord Jesus with expectant faith and humility,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"While human praise does not tempt the Lord, people are often ruffled and nearly entranced by human praise and honors in the church. Peter was afraid on the sea, terrified by the great force of the storm. Indeed, who does not fear that voice: 'Those who say you are happy place you in error and disturb the path of your feet' (Isaiah 3:12 Vulgate translation)? And since the soul struggles against the desire for human praise, it is good for it to turn to prayer and petition amid such danger, lest one who is charmed by praise be overcome by criticism and reproach. Let Peter, about to sink in the waves, cry out and say, 'Lord, save me!' The Lord reached out his hand. He chided Peter, saying, 'O man of little faith, why did you doubt?' - that is, why did you not, gazing straight at the Lord as you approached, pride yourself only in him? Nevertheless he snatched Peter from the waves and did not allow him who was declaring his weakness and asking the Lord for help to perish." (excerpt from SERMON 75:10) (Schwager, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler reflects on the texts of today. In the Book of Numbers, Miriam and Aaron are jealous of Moses' special relationship with God and complain using Moses' marriage to a Cushite as a pretense. They should accept God’s will. Charisms are given and not our property but to serve the building of the Kingdom. Moses intercedes for Miriam after her error. In Matthew’s Gospel, after praying on a mountain, where people meet God, Late in night the disciples are terrified by Jesus walking on the sea. Impetuous Peter gets out to walk on the water but loses faith and he is rebuked a bit for lack of faith. The three types of miracles, nature, exorcism and healing are presented and Friar Jude reminds us that walking on the sea was seen as a form of exorcism of the demonic creatures believed to be in the sea.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, considers wisdom a path of transformation based on humility and honesty and grounded in reality.
Consider the concrete teaching style of Jesus. He teaches in the temple area several times, but most of his teaching involves walking with people on the streets, out into the desert, and often into nature. His examples come from the things he sees around him: birds, flowers, animals, clouds, landlords and tenants, little children, women baking and sweeping. It’s amazing that we made his teaching into something other than that.
Jesus teaches with anecdote, parable, and concrete example much more than by creating a systematic theology; it was more the way of “darkness” than the way of light. Yet it was Jesus’s concrete examples that broke people through to the universal light. “Particulars” seem to most open us up to universals, which is what poets have always understood. (Rohr, n.d.)
We seek the guidance of the Spirit to reveal Jesus' Way of maintaining our faith in times of turmoil and fear on our journey over the sea of our passage in life.
References
Matthew, CHAPTER 14 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved August 5, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/14?22
Nickerson, B. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved August 5, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-august-5-2025
Numbers, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved August 5, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/numbers/12?1
Psalms, PSALM 51 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved August 5, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/51?3
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved August 5, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/grounded-in-reality/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). It Is I - Have No Fear. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved August 5, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=aug5
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