Tuesday: 18^th Week in Ordinary Time-A

I Reading: Numbers 12: 1-13: There has never been such a prophet as Moses; how have you dared to speak against him?

Gospel: Matthew 14:22-36: Tell me to come to you across the water.

The Messiah’s Power to Calm a Storm: The Power of His Presence

The Lord’s presence makes all the difference in the world.

1. Christ presence is assured by personal preparation (v.22-23)

a. He sent the disciples away

b. He dismissed the crowd

c. He got alone to pray

          1) On a mountain

          2) In the evening

          3) All alone

          4) In a storm

2. Christ’s presence conquers fear ( v.24-27)

a. A storm arose

b. Jesus went to them: He walked on the see

c. The disciples feared, thinking they saw a ghost

d. Jesus gave assurance-His presence

3. Christ’s presence stirs the hope of being saved (v.28-31)

a. Peter’s hope was stirred: He could be saved by Christ presence

b. Jesus’ command: come

c. Peter’s faith faltered

1) Glanced at storm

          2) Begin to sink

          3) Cried: Lord, save

d. Jesus saved, but rebuked faltering faith

4. Christ’s presence conquers nature (v.32)

5. Christ’s presence stirs confession and worship (v.33)

Thought: The Lord’s presence is the answer to the storms of life-to all distressed spirits (1Pet 1:5; 2Tim 5:18).

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