‘fide et orate’ - trust and pray Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Parish, Sunnybank

Today’s readings: 1 Kings 19:9, 11-13; Psalms 84:9-14; Romans 9:1-5’;

Matthew14:22-33

Reflections ... There is something about the grandeur of mountains that makes us feel close to God. Elijah went to Horeb, ‘the mountain of God’; Moses conversed with God on mount Sinai; Jesus went up into the hills to pray. Blessed Pier Georgio Frassati loved mountain climbing and once wrote ‘Verso l’Alto’ (toward the top) on the back of a photo of himself

climbing. It has since become representative of his life - a constant striving to reach the summit of eternal life. Our late Archbishop, John Bathersby often climbed the mountains of SE QLD. I also love mountains and would dearly have loved to have been back in the Alpine National Park amongst the snow gums and falling snow with my young family a few weeks ago, but alas it will have to wait. We don’t always get what we would like in our timeframe. Maybe one of those lessons in patience.

But, back to the point of my reflecting on the grandeur of mountains, rather than the mind wandering all over the place like the tracks across the peaks of the mountains; there definitely is something about climbing high in the mountains giving you a real sense of God’s closeness. Maybe it is the stillness and time that it takes that gives one the opportunity to slow down and allow God back into the depths

of one’s soul. Perhaps it is the beauty of Mother Nature. Possibly it is simply the opportunity to be alone with God. Whatever it is, we see Jesus, also (in today’s Gospel and a number of occasions in the scriptures), going up into the hills. ‘For what purpose’ you might ask: to be with God. Jesus knew the need for solitude and withdrew into the mountains to pray. If you haven’t had the opportunity lately, take the time to climb a mountain and make it an occasion of communion with God.

It is interesting also that in the first reading Elijah was on the ‘mountain of God’, but God was not in the mighty wind, nor the earthquake, or the fire, but in the gentle breeze. God came to Elijah in the gentle silence. It is important for us to also make time for stillness and silence in our own lives, that God may reveal Himself to us.

The Gospel also goes on to tell the story of Jesus walking across the water to Peter. As no doubt any of us would do if we saw someone coming towards our boat in the middle of the night, Peter became afraid. Jesus tells St Peter, and us, ‘do not be afraid, it is I’. Jesus is with us, so we have nothing to fear. Do we really comprehend this? Do we live our lives free from overwhelming fear? Do we trust Jesus and rest in the safety of knowing He is with us always?

Peter, obviously, quickly changed his tune once he realised it was Jesus, for he steps out of the boat and walks towards Jesus. When was the last time we, figuratively, got out of the boat, left our security blanket behind, and walked towards what Jesus is calling us to do: trusting faithfully in the promises of God? Now the important

part of all of this is not to lose faith, for we know where this landed Peter.

Faith … faith can move mountains, can change our perspective on things, can bring hope where there is fear, light where there is darkness, joy where there is sorrow. Like St Peter, it takes faith to put our trust in God, but where would we be without it? Remember, just like St Peter, whom Jesus reached out and gave His hand to in order to save and raise him up, Jesus is always there to save and raise us to greater things in Him. We just need to be a little like Blessed Pier Georgio, spend some time ‘upon the mountain’ with God and ‘Verso l’Alto - ‘strive for the summit of eternal life’ with Christ as our anchor and guide through the storms of life.

Click here to access this

week’s Summit reflection

on the Sunday readings

from Life Teen

Please click here to access this weekend’s readings and prayer resource from Liturgy Brisbane.

A prayer resources for families. Click here to access this week’s.

Two Minute Homilies

This week’s 2 minute homily

from the Archdiocese can be

accessed from:

https://brisbanecatholic.org.au/

multimedia/two-minute-homilies/

There is a lot of uncertainty and unrest at the present time, but, like Peter in today’s Gospel, we are told ‘Do not be afraid.’ With God by our side we have nothing to be afraid of. When we feel discouraged or overwhelmed, perhaps we should take note of what Jesus did in the Gospel: He found a quite place to pray. Prayer reorients us. Take a moment to be in God’s presence now and rest in Christ. God bless, ChristopherVoigt

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Feast day this week:

St Lawrence (Mon-10th August)

St Clare (Tues-11th August)

From a very early age, St Clare always wanted to consecrate her life to Jesus. Also from Assisi, St Clare was interested in the sanctity of the life that St Francis lived and her conversation with him made her resolute in abandoning the world to follow Christ by a life of simplicity characterised by poverty and fasting. She had a great devotion to our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament and founded the Second Order of St Francis, or Poor Clares, as it is known. Her sister Agnes and her mother were also among those who joined with her in uniting themselves to Christ by this simple way of life.

St Maximillian Mary Kolbe (Fri-14th August)

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(Sat-15th August)

The Australian Catholic Bishop’s conference have

produced a weekly Liturgy of the Word that can be celebrated as a family at home. Click here

to access this week’s.

Music for this week:

‘Everyday God’ —————

‘Be Still My Soul’ —————

‘Mighty to Save’