My Dear Parish Family,

      Often I have referenced what happens as I try to prepare for my Sunday homilies. As I read the scriptures I pay attention to whatever word or phrase that particularly speaks to me at the time. One detail in this gospel today catches my attention every time I read it. Before the wind, before the waves, before Peter steps out of the boat, before the miracle itself, Jesus goes off by himself to pray. It's easy to overlook and (I have to admit), I often try to skip to the action in my life as well.

      When faced with an important decision, I tend to get busy. I gather information. I make lists of pros and cons. I seek advice from people I trust. I analyze possibilities and imagine outcomes. I’m making myself look better as I write this, but the reality is that sometimes I can go the other way and actually busy myself with unrelated things. What I do know is that there is value in all those things and I've come to realize that I sometimes approach discernment as a task to accomplish. It is not a “one and done.” It is ongoing.

      Once we are able to accept that reality it gives us great freedom. Not every decision must be rushed. It trusts that God may reveal a path gradually rather than all at once. Jesus steps aside and prays before rejoining his disciples out on the sea. In his prayer he must have been contemplating all that was yet to come. For all of us it is well that we should not be focused on the immediate but that we take the time to pray and seek the Lord’s way in our decisions.

      Peter calls out to the Lord in his usual impulsive way, not fully realizing what he is asking of Jesus. When Jesus responds and Peter steps out onto the water we realize how important it is that we trust in God’s word and God’s grace that will support us in our decisions. I am still learning that lesson. Some of the roughest waters I’ve encountered are not necessarily caused by the storm itself, but by my own haste for to act. Open our eyes and hearts, Lord to trust in your call and experience your presence in all that we say and do. Amen.

God bless you all and  Oremus pro invicem.

Fr. Scott Shaffer