Jer 30:1-2, 12-15, 18-22 Ps 102:16-18, 19-21, 29+22-23 Matt 14:22-36 or (Year A) Matt 15:1-2, 10-14

Weekly Guide for Daily Prayer The Daily Reflections

"Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” -Matthew 14:31

We cannot describe the human race as docile creatures that are disinterested in asking questions, which we should be pleased with, but where does that leave us in the area of faith?  You may say, ‘Now Kayla, there is such a thing as blind faith.’  To which I would reply, ‘what about when we’re tested like Peter?’

Recently, my own faith life was blindsided.  My father fell gravely ill last year and spent months in and out of hospitals and care facilities with an undiagnosed illness.  Before all this occurred, I was in the middle of my own quest to redefine my faith.  The series of events that resulted from the illness caused me to completely question my faith in God.  Like many who made the mistake before me, I felt frustrated that God would allow such circumstances to happen.  Although my family turned towards the Church for support, I found myself distancing myself from God and becoming an increasingly bitter person.

In many ways, I was Peter out on the water.  I was scared, unsure, and lacking complete faith.  However, the series of events allowed me to truly question why faith is important in my own life.  In a society where knowing and understanding are forever emphasized, blind faith seems quite absurd, yet we must allow ourselves to believe.  At times we may doubt, like Peter and myself, but we must understand that God will be there to lead us back.