Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/577

 an  invisible  power. 3. When  our  Lord  entered  the  ship,  the  storm was immediately  quieted,  and  4. the ship  instantly  arrived  at  its destination.

The object  of  these  miracles. These  four  miracles,  in  common  with the preceding  miracle  of  the  loaves,  and  the  miracle  which  followed  of healing  the  sick  by  the  very  touch  of  His  garments,  had  the  object  of quickening  and  strengthening  the  apostles’  faith  and  of  preparing  them for the  revelation  of  the  great  mystery  of  faith,  the  Real  Presence  of our  Lord  in  the  Holy  Eucharist. The miracle  of  our  Lord  walking  on the  water  was  intended  to  explain  to  them  the  attributes  of  His  glorified Body; and  the  healing  of  the  sick  by  the  touch  of  His  garments  foreshadowed the  effects  of  receiving  His  Sacred  Body,  which  our  Lord described in  the  next  chapter. If the  very  touch  of  His  garments  could heal the  sick,  surely  it  is  not  hard  to  believe  that  a soul  can  obtain everlasting life  by  receiving  His  Body  and  Blood.

The faith  and  love  of  St.  Peter  are  remarkable,  and  show  us  why our Lord  Jesus  Christ  chose  this  particular  apostle  to  be  the  rock  on which  to  build  His  Church. All the  apostles  recognised  our  Lord’s Voice, but  only  to  St.  Peter  did  it  occur  to  hasten  across  the  water  to meet  Him. St. Chrysostom  says:  “Behold  how  great  were  the  faith and love  of  the  apostle! His faith  made  him  say:  Jesus  not  only  can walk on  the  water  Himself,  but  He  can  make  others  walk  with  Him! He did  not  say:  ‘Lord,  teach  me  to  walk  on  the  waves’,  but:  ‘Lord, bid me  come  to  Thee!’  It  was  not  for  display,  but  for  pure  love  of Jesus,  that  he  demanded  this  great  miracle.”

Do you  always  say  your  grace  at  meals? Do you say  it  devoutly,  or  carelessly?

The great  miracles  you  have  heard  about  ought  to  strengthen your faith  in  Jesus  and  His  divine  word. Say to  our  Lord  joyfully and  with  deep  conviction:  “Truly,  Thou  art  the  Son  of  God!” Pray to  Him  every  day  to  increase  your  faith  and  to  keep  it from  wavering.

ANY of  those  who  had  been  miraculously  fed  by  our  Lord returned next  morning  to  Caphamaum,  where  they  sought and found  Him  in  the  synagogue. Here Jesus  addressed  them,