Today’s gospel finds us inside a boat in a turbulent storm. The boat is being tossed around by the waves and the wind. And there, in the midst of all the chaos and confusion, is Jesus walking on the water coming toward the boat.
The Fathers of the Church liked to use the image of the boat as a symbol for the Church—because within it is Peter and the apostles, the first caretakers of the Church and those sent into the world to make it a reality.
The waves and the wind tossing the boat from side to side are all those things that hit us in life that try to pull us down. In our personal spiritual journey it can represent our problems, our worries, our fears, our temptations or sins, or even those things we have no control over that hit us hard.
But as we see in the gospel, Jesus isn’t fazed by any of it. Jesus rises above it, walks over it, and climbs into the boat. He even invites Peter to do the same. But so importantly, he also is able to calm the storm like no one else can do. He brings peace.
The boat is an important symbol of the St. Hubert faith community, because our incredible ceiling is meant to remind us of being inside of a fishing boat every time we gather together. The boat carries us through the storms around us with our eyes fixed on Jesus, who is able to rise above it all.
What’s comforting for us is to realize that Jesus climbs in the same boat with us. And we travel together. We’re never alone. We have Jesus and we have the strength of being with one another in a faith community. And we get through.
Things to Do in the “Boat”….
One of the great things about St. Hubert are the many different ministries we have. We have a lot of people involved giving their time to make a difference in the lives of others—both within St. Hubert but also the larger community as well.
As the summer comes to a close, it may be a great opportunity to pray about whether or not you would like to be involved in one of these groups. In the narthex are brochures about all the different ministries we have explaining what each group does and how to help. If you have ever felt an urge within to get involved in anything from being a companion to the sick, to teaching the faith, to helping out during the Mass, to you name it, there is place for you and something to do. There’s nothing more fulfilling than to use the gifts and strengths we have to help someone else. I can tell you from experience, no one ever regrets helping, but instead it lifts them up. We all are helped when we help someone else.
This Saturday, we warmly welcome our friends from St. Aloysius Parish who join us for our annual Parish Picnic followed by 4:30 PM Mass. By the time you read this, you hopefully will have had your fill of hot dogs, but also have met some new friends along the way.
Speaking of hot dogs, please join us next Saturday for the School Family Picnic on August 18 beginning with Mass at 4:30 PM. Meet our new principal, Kelly Bourrell, and spend some time with our school families. It’s a great way to celebrate a new school year.