Our Lady of Sorrows
    info@oladyofsorrows.org
    956-686-0251
    • Home
    • News
      • Weekly Bulletin
    • Homilies
      • Msgr. Gustavo Barrera
      • Dcn. Ray Thomas
      • Dcn. Johnny Gonzalez
      • Dcn. Crawford Higgins
    • About Us
      • Office Directory
      • Worship & Liturgy Schedule
      • Our Pastor
      • Photo Gallery
    • Donate
    • Sacraments
      • Baptism
      • Matrimony
      • CCD
      • RCIA
    • Ministries & Organizations
      • Adoration
      • Altar & Rosary Society
      • Altar Servers
      • Asamblea de Oracion de Matrimonios (AOM)
      • Catholic Daughters of the Americas
      • Homebound Ministry
      • JCDA
      • Choir
      • Knights of Columbus
      • Legion of Mary
      • Readers of the Word (Lectors)
      • Serra Club
      • Star of Hope
    • Faith & Spirituality Groups
      • Bereavement Support
      • Centering Prayer Group
    • Become a Parishioner
    • Funeral Information
    • Quinceañera Information
    • OLS YouTube Channel
    • School
    • Diocese of Brownsville
    • Contact Us

    19 Sunday, Cycle A

    8/13/2017

     
    Matthew 14:22-33
    ​
    A favorite summer activity was when our mother took us swimming at the public pool.  We had the whole pool to ourselves but inevitably would congregate towards one another.  Without fail one of us would start splashing the other by putting our hand into the water and with all our might throw the water into the other’s face.  “Mother, Gus is getting me wet! Luis is getter me wet! Sally is splashing me!”  Mother would say, “Stop getting each other wet or you’ll have to come out of the pool.”   
     
    St. Peter was all wet.  He thought that he was going to drown.  “Save me Lord!”  Consider that the water represents sin.  The boat is a symbol of the Church.  Thus the expression, “We are all in the same boat.”  While we share the safety that the Church offers us we also share the danger of sinking when we venture outside of the Church.  If indeed the water represents sin, St. Peter had been wet for long time.  He was a sinful man and admits being sinful several places in the Scriptures.  That’s one reason that we can all identify with St. Peter.  Speaking before thinking—putting his foot in his mouth—bragging about his fidelity and then failing miserably.  But he was smart enough to come to Jesus to ask for help.   We do not have to wait until we are downing to ask for help.  Procrastination is still quite popular—which is why some folks wait until the last minute.  Although the Sacrament of Extreme Unction no longer exists, the mentality is still around.  Years ago a priest was called when a person was on their last breath—had to be dying.  The priest would come and administer the Extreme Unction—the last anointing—starting from the head, the ears, the eyes all the way down to the feet.  If the person was aware, he would also hear their confession.  Now we have the Sacrament of the Sick.  A person no longer has to be in danger of death, but seriously ill.  People ask to be anointed before surgery, before going for cancer treatments, certainly before being admitted to the hospital—always a good idea. 
     
    The boat or the Church is our refuge, She gives us the Sacraments The Church has been challenged from the beginning and will continue to be persecuted until the end.  But Jesus keeps Her safe though the Holy Spirit—just as present today as with the early Apostles.  Storms will come.  However, the saving hand of Jesus is stronger than all the storms put together.
     
    Notice that Jesus did not hesitate to save St. Peter.  “Immediately” the Scripture says—no conditions—no questions—Jesus pulled St. Peter to safety.  All he had to do was ask.  We often forget to ask because we are distracted by the storm, the wind, our own ability to walk on water.  We work hard, earn titles, reach the mark—the thought comes that somehow we deserve what we have.  The illusion is that we can survive without the Lord.  Only a matter of time before we go under and realize that we are “all wet”.  Takes child-like confidence, a trusting heart, a humble attitude to know that we are not in charge.  We cannot save ourselves.  Regardless of how soaked we think that we are—how much we have damaged ourselves—we are salvageable—we are lovable.  As Jesus drew St. Peter out of the water and said, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”  He was probably smiling.  “Why did you doubt that I would save you?  “Why did you doubt that I love you?”  That’s the reason that most of us go under—because we stop believing that God loves us, forgives us, and will one day take us to heaven.  We doubt that we are worthy of being God’s dwelling place.  Remember the prayer:  “Lord save me!”  Save me in spite of myself. 
     
    Jesus is waiting for us to realize that we are nothing without Him.  All we have to do is ask.  His hand is always ready.   
     

    Comments are closed.
      Picture
      Msgr. Gustavo Barrera,
      ​celebrated his first Holy Mass as pastor on September 15, 2007, the feast day of Our Lady of Sorrows. With his enthusiasm and spiritual guidance, OLS continues to serve our Catholic family in a way that challenges us to grow as an evangelizing community.

      Archives

      January 2023
      December 2022
      November 2022
      October 2022
      September 2022
      August 2022
      July 2022
      June 2022
      May 2022
      April 2022
      March 2022
      February 2022
      January 2022
      November 2020
      October 2020
      September 2020
      August 2020
      July 2020
      June 2020
      May 2020
      April 2020
      March 2020
      February 2020
      January 2020
      December 2019
      November 2019
      October 2019
      September 2019
      July 2019
      June 2019
      May 2019
      April 2019
      March 2019
      February 2019
      January 2019
      December 2018
      November 2018
      October 2018
      September 2018
      August 2018
      July 2018
      June 2018
      May 2018
      April 2018
      March 2018
      February 2018
      January 2018
      December 2017
      November 2017
      October 2017
      September 2017
      August 2017
      June 2017
      May 2017
      April 2017
      March 2017
      February 2017
      January 2017
      December 2016
      November 2016
      October 2016
      September 2016
      August 2016
      July 2016
      June 2016
      May 2016
      April 2016
      March 2016
      February 2016
      January 2016
      December 2015
      November 2015
      October 2015
      September 2015
      August 2015
      July 2015
      June 2015
      May 2015
      April 2015
      March 2015

      Msgr. Gustavo Barrera, Pastor.

      Categories

      All

      RSS Feed

    About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Office Directory
    • Stewardship
    • Pastor
    • Our History
    Sacraments
    • Baptism
    • First Reconciliation
    • First Communion
    • Confirmation
    • Marriage
    • Anointing of the Sick
    Parish Life
    1. Become a Parishioner
    2. Bulletin & Newsletters
    3. Planning Center Log-in​
    Worship and Liturgy
    • Daily Readings
    • Liturgy of Hours
    • Mass & Reconciliation
    • Eucharistic Adoration
    Faith Formation
    • CCD
    • RCIA​
    Links & Resources
    • CDOB
    • USCCB
    • Vatican: Holy See
    • American Catholic
    More
    • Homilies
    • Online Giving
    • OLS School
    • OLS on YouTube
    Our Lady of Sorrows Parish
    1108 W Hackberry Ave.
    McAllen, Texas 78501-4370
    Telephone
    : (956) 686-0251
    Picture
    Picture

    Website Development by The Parish Solutions Company
    Our Lady of Sorrow Image Copyright Cromo NB permission to use by CNB Basevi.
    Back to top