0:07
Reading from the book of Numbers. In
0:09
those days, Mary and Aaron criticized
0:12
Moses because of his Ethiopian wife.
0:15
They said, "Has the Lord spoken only
0:18
through Moses? Has he not also spoken
0:21
through us?" And the Lord heard this.
0:24
Moses was a very humble man, more so
0:27
than anyone else on earth. Then the Lord
0:30
said to Moses, Aaron, and Mary, "Go all
0:33
three of you to the tent of meeting, and
0:36
they went." The Lord descended in the
0:39
pillar of cloud, stood at the entrance
0:41
to the tent, and called Aaron and Mary.
0:44
When they came near, he said to them,
0:46
"Listen to my words. If there is a
0:49
prophet of the Lord among you, I will
0:51
reveal myself to him in visions and
0:53
speak to him in dreams. But not so with
0:56
my servant Moses, who is the most
0:58
faithful in all my house. For I speak to
1:01
him face to face. He sees the Lord
1:04
clearly, not in figures. How then do you
1:07
demean my servant Moses? Then the Lord,
1:10
angry with them, withdrew. The cloud
1:13
over the tent lifted, and immediately
1:16
Mary was found covered with leprosy,
1:18
white as snow. When Aaron looked at her
1:21
and saw that she was covered with
1:22
leprosy, he said to Moses, "I beg you,
1:25
my Lord, do not hold us accountable for
1:27
the sin we have foolishly committed, do
1:30
not let Mary remain as dead, like a
1:32
stillborn child thrown out of its
1:34
mother's womb with half its flesh eaten
1:37
away by leprosy." Then Moses cried out
1:39
to the Lord, saying, "Oh God, I beg you,
1:43
heal him." The word of the Lord. Thanks
1:56
Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus
1:58
Christ according to St. Matthew. Glory
2:01
to you, Lord. After the crowds had eaten
2:04
their fill, Jesus made the disciples get
2:06
into the boat and go ahead of him to the
2:08
other side while he dismissed the
2:10
crowds. After dismissing them, Jesus
2:13
went up on the mountain side by himself
2:15
to pray. Evening came and Jesus was
2:19
there alone. The boat, now far from
2:22
land, was tossed by the waves, for the
2:25
wind was against it. About 3:00 in the
2:27
morning, Jesus came to the disciples
2:30
walking on the sea. When the disciples
2:32
saw him walking on the sea, they were
2:35
terrified and said, "It is a ghost." And
2:38
they cried out in fear. But Jesus
2:41
immediately said to them, "Take courage.
2:44
It is I. Do not be afraid. Then Peter
2:48
said to him,"Lord, if it is you, command
2:51
me to come to you walking on the water."
2:53
And Jesus answered, "Come." Peter got
2:57
out of the boat and began to walk on the
2:59
water toward Jesus. But when he felt the
3:01
wind, he was afraid and beginning to
3:03
sink, cried out, Lord, save me.
3:08
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand
3:10
and caught Peter. He said to him, "You
3:13
of little faith, why did you doubt?" As
3:16
soon as they got into the boat, the wind
3:18
died down. Those in the boat fell down
3:21
before him, saying, "Truly, you are the
3:24
son of God." After crossing over, they
3:27
landed at Jenniserat. The people of that
3:30
place recognized Jesus and spread the
3:32
news throughout the region. Then they
3:34
brought to him all who were sick,
3:36
begging that they might just touch the
3:37
hem of his garment. And as many as
3:40
touched it were healed. Word of
3:42
salvation. Glory to you, Lord.
3:53
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
3:56
imagine for a moment that you are
3:58
sailing on the high seas in a small
4:00
boat. The sky was clear when you set
4:02
out, but now dark clouds are rapidly
4:05
approaching. The waves begin to grow,
4:08
rocking the boat violently. The wind
4:10
howls around you, and each wave seems
4:13
more menacing than the last. It is in
4:15
this moment of terror that you spot a
4:17
figure approaching, walking on the
4:19
turbulent waters as if it were dry land.
4:22
This image transports us directly to the
4:24
heart of today's readings where we find
4:26
profound lessons about pride, humility,
4:30
faith, and the transforming presence of
4:32
God amidst life storms. Our first
4:34
reading takes us to the desert where we
4:37
witness one of the most painful episodes
4:39
in the people of Israel's journey toward
4:41
the promised land. Miriam and Aaron,
4:43
Moses' brothers, begin to murmur against
4:46
him. Has the Lord spoken only through
4:49
Moses? Has he not also spoken through
4:52
us? What a venomous question. Behind
4:55
this apparent theological question lurks
4:58
something much darker. Envy, wounded
5:00
pride, and a desire for power. Miriam
5:04
and Aaron are not genuinely concerned
5:06
with matters of spiritual authority.
5:08
They resent Moses's holding a leadership
5:10
position they also desire. How many
5:13
times have we fallen into this same
5:15
trap? How many times have we questioned
5:17
the authority of others, not out of love
5:19
for truth, but because our pride has
5:22
been wounded? How many times have we
5:24
used seemingly spiritual arguments to
5:26
mask our own selfish desires for
5:28
recognition and power? Imagine the pain
5:31
in Moses's heart upon hearing these
5:33
words from his own brothers. Those who
5:35
should have been at his side, supporting
5:37
him in the difficult task of leading a
5:39
rebellious people through the desert,
5:41
now turn against him. Moses, who had
5:44
sacrificed a comfortable life in
5:46
Pharaoh's palace to free his people, now
5:48
faces ingratitude and betrayal from
5:50
those closest to him. But God's response
5:53
is immediate and powerful. He calls the
5:56
three brothers to the tent of meeting
5:58
and confronts Miriam and Aaron directly.
6:01
Listen carefully to my words, says the
6:03
Lord. If there is a prophet among you, I
6:06
will reveal myself to him in a vision. I
6:09
will speak to him in a dream, but not so
6:12
with my servant Moses. I speak to him
6:15
face to face. What an extraordinary
6:18
statement. God is clearly establishing
6:21
that Moses has a unique relationship
6:23
with him. It is not a matter of
6:25
favoritism, but of a specific calling
6:27
and spiritual intimacy developed through
6:29
years of faithful obedience. And then
6:32
comes the judgment. Miriam is struck
6:34
with leprosy. Imagine the shock, the
6:38
horror of that moment. In an instant,
6:40
the one who had questioned Moses'
6:42
authority finds herself afflicted with a
6:44
disease that would render her impure,
6:46
isolated from the community. But here we
6:49
see something wonderful in Moses'
6:51
character. Instead of rejoicing in his
6:53
sister's punishment, instead of saying,
6:55
"Serves you right," he immediately
6:58
intercedes for her. "Oh God, I beg you,
7:01
heal her." What a generous heart. What a
7:05
forgiving spirit. Moses demonstrates
7:08
here the true greatness of a leader
7:09
after God's own heart. This story
7:12
teaches us about the devastating
7:14
consequences of pride and envy, but also
7:16
about the transformative power of
7:18
humility and forgiveness. Moses is
7:21
described as the humblest man on the
7:23
face of the earth. His humility is not
7:26
weakness but spiritual strength that
7:28
allows him to intercede even for those
7:30
who have hurt him. Now let us turn our
7:33
attention to the Gospel of Matthew where
7:35
we find the disciples in an equally
7:37
challenging situation. Jesus had sent
7:40
them to cross the sea while he went up
7:42
the mountain to pray. But in the middle
7:44
of the night they find themselves
7:46
battling headwinds, the waves
7:48
threatening to engulf their small boat.
7:51
It is here in the fourth watch of the
7:53
night between 3 and 6:00 a.m. the
7:55
darkest moment before dawn that Jesus
7:58
comes to them walking on the water. What
8:01
a powerful image. Jesus does not come
8:04
when it is convenient. When the sea is
8:06
calm and the journey is easy. He comes
8:09
precisely at their greatest need. When
8:11
the storm is at its fiercest, but the
8:14
disciples initial reaction is one of
8:16
terror. It's a ghost, they cry. This is
8:19
not surprising. How often do we too fail
8:23
to recognize God's presence because he
8:26
comes in a way we didn't expect? How
8:28
often do our own anxiety and fear
8:30
prevent us from seeing that Christ is
8:32
right there with us even in the midst of
8:34
the storm? Jesus immediately reassures
8:37
them. Take courage. It is I. Do not be
8:41
afraid. What comforting words. It is I.
8:46
These two small words carry the full
8:48
weight of divine presence. It is the
8:51
same I am that revealed himself to Moses
8:54
in the burning bush. the same sacred
8:56
name that echoes throughout scripture.
8:58
And then Peter in a moment of courageous
9:00
faith asks to step out of the boat.
9:03
Lord, if it is you, command me to come
9:05
to you walking on the water. What
9:10
What extraordinary faith. Peter is not
9:13
content with simply seeing Jesus. He
9:16
wants to participate in the miracle.
9:18
Jesus simply responds, "Come." And Peter
9:22
steps out of the boat. For a few
9:24
wondrous moments, he does the
9:25
impossible. Walks on the water, defying
9:29
all the laws of physics, sustained only
9:31
by the word and presence of Christ. But
9:34
then something deeply human happens.
9:36
Peter saw the strong wind and was
9:38
afraid. The moment he took his eyes off
9:41
Jesus and focused on the circumstances
9:43
around him, he began to sink. Lord, save
9:47
me, he cries. And immediately Jesus
9:50
reaches out and catches him. How many of
9:53
us are like Peter at this moment? We
9:55
begin our journey of faith with
9:57
enthusiasm, willing to do the
9:59
impossible. But when life storms
10:01
intensify, when the waves of hardship
10:04
seem to threaten to engulf us, we take
10:06
our eyes off Jesus and begin to sink.
10:09
Jesus question resonates through the
10:11
centuries. Oh, you of little faith, why
10:14
did you doubt? It's not a cruel rebuke,
10:17
but a gentle invitation to reflection.
10:20
Why do we doubt? Why do we allow
10:23
external circumstances to overcome our
10:25
trust in the power and presence of
10:27
Christ? When Jesus enters the boat, the
10:30
wind calms. What powerful symbolism.
10:34
Christ's presence brings peace not only
10:36
to external storms but to the internal
10:38
storms of our hearts. And the disciples
10:41
response is adoration. Truly, you are
10:44
the son of God. My dear brothers and
10:47
sisters, these two readings present us
10:49
with stark contrasts. On the one hand,
10:53
we see Miriam and Aaron's pride leading
10:55
to division and judgment. On the other,
10:58
we see Peter's faith, even with its
11:00
limitations, being honored by Christ. On
11:04
the one hand, the murmuring in the
11:06
wilderness. On the other, the worship in
11:08
the boat. We all face storms in our
11:11
lives. They can be storms of illness,
11:14
financial problems, broken
11:16
relationships, crises of faith, or
11:19
simply the wear and tear of everyday
11:21
life. And in the midst of these storms,
11:23
we are tempted to react like Miriam and
11:25
Aaron, blaming others, questioning God's
11:28
leadership, letting pride and envy
11:30
poison our hearts. But today's readings
11:33
invite us to a different response. We
11:36
are called to the humility of Moses who
11:39
even when wounded by those closest to
11:41
him intercedes for them. We are called
11:44
to the courage of Peter who even
11:46
imperfect in his faith is willing to
11:48
step out of the boat and attempt the
11:50
impossible. And above all, we are
11:53
reminded that Christ comes to us in our
11:55
storms. He does not abandon us when the
11:57
winds are contrary. He does not turn
12:00
away when the waves threaten to engulf
12:02
us. Even when our faith waivers, he
12:05
extends his hand to hold us today. I
12:09
invite each of you to examine your own
12:11
storms. Where have you allowed pride and
12:13
envy to create division in your lives?
12:16
Where do you need the humility of Moses
12:18
to intercede for those who have hurt
12:20
you? Where do you need the courage of
12:22
Peter to step out of the boat of safety
12:24
and trust in the power of Christ?
12:27
Remember, we don't need perfect faith to
12:30
experience God's power. Peter began to
12:32
sink, but Christ held him. Our faith may
12:36
be small. It may waver, but Christ is
12:39
faithful. He is with us in the storm.
12:42
Not just as an observer, but as the one
12:44
with the power to calm the winds and
12:46
waves. May we, like the disciples in
12:49
that boat, truly recognize who Jesus is.
12:53
May our response to life storms be not
12:55
murmuring and division, but worship and
12:58
trust. May we have the humility to
13:00
recognize our limitations and the
13:02
courage to take steps of faith even when
13:05
circumstances seem impossible. And may
13:07
we always remember when Christ enters
13:10
our boat, when his presence fills our
13:12
lives, the winds calm and peace reigns.
13:16
This is the promise of the gospel. This
13:18
is the hope we have in Christ Jesus. May
13:21
the Lord bless you and protect you
13:23
through all of life's storms. May he
13:25
make his face shine upon you and grant
13:27
you his peace today, tomorrow, and
13:41
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in
13:44
battle. Be our protection against the
13:46
wickedness and snares of the devil. May
13:49
God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And do
13:52
thou, O prince of the heavenly host, by
13:55
the power of God, cast into hell Satan
13:59
and all the evil spirits who prowl
14:01
throughout the world seeking the ruin of
