Sway With God!

A young boy always concluded his bedtime prayers with a few requests. “Dear God,” he would say, “please take care of Mommy and Daddy and my brother Evan and Aunt Elyse and Uncle Art.” One night, after the events of the day left him worried and afraid he said, “Dear God, please take good care of Mommy and Daddy, my brother, Grandma, and Grandpa, and Aunt Elyse. And please, God take extra good care of yourself — because if you don’t, we’re all sunk!”

Today’s Gospel episode takes place on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus tells the disciples to “get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side” (Mt. 14:22). After sending the crowds away, Jesus withdraws by Himself to pray. Meanwhile, the disciples are feeling as though they are all sunk — having a rough time in the boat which, Matthew tells us “is battling with a heavy sea for there was a head-wind.” Perceiving the disciples’ predicament,…