Remembering Peter


Imagine traveling at sea on a small boat and finding yourself in the middle of a storm ...  I found myself in that situation a few days ago on a weekend trip with my wife and kids.

We went on a weekend trip to San Agustin town in Surigao del Sur and discovered this wonderful place called Barangay Britannia.  The barrio had 13 small islands a few kilometers off the coastline.  The islands were like the Hundred Islands of Pangasinan, but so much better than the one up North.  At least four of the islands had Boracay-like sands (Yes, powdery coral white sands!) and a sand bar, they called Naked Island, in the middle of the sea (just like White Island in Camiguin, but that one was nothing compared to this place).

What's so amazing about the place was that it was still untouched by commercial tourism.  There were no hotels, no restaurants, no vendors and commercial establishments around. Only trees, rocks, sand, sky and water all around you! And best of all, there were only a handful of backpackers around.  We literally had the beach for ourselves that day.

That afternoon, before going home, the group we were with decided to go island hopping.  We were only able to visit two other islands before heading back.  From afar, I could already see very dark clouds coming. I understand weather conditions could suddenly change at sea, so I really wanted to head back to shore before those dark clouds get to us.

We were still halfway into our trip back to shore when the storm came.  Our companions wanted to get our things first from the other island, but I said let's forget about those things and best that we get to shore.  The storm just got stronger and I was afraid for the kids.  My youngest daughter was already shivering and all I could do was to wrap my arms around my two kids and shield them with my life jacket from the rain that felt like tiny stones hitting you at top speed.  The waves got bigger and at one point I just closed my eyes and prayed.

In the middle of the storm, I thought about how Peter would have felt when they were threatened by a strong storm at sea.


22Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

 25During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.
 27But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."
 28"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."
 29"Come," he said.
   Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
 31Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"
 32And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." 

Matthew 14:22-33


And from that short moment, fear had left and as if I could hear Jesus say "Take courage, It is I. Do not be afraid". 

Although it only takes about 30 minutes to get to the shore, the trip back felt as if it took us forever!  Finally, the shoreline was in sight and we all had a sigh of relief.

The storm may have been strong, but God's presence was stronger and he kept us safe.   

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

CREATING INNER SPACE

Image
I am posting this article I had kept in files through these years.  I find this article written by Sister Maureen Conroy, RSM very helpful in reminding me to keep on creating my inner space.  This was taken from The Living Prayer published in its July-August 1990 edition. The photos I inserted here are mine and were taken from the Jesuit Novitiate in Novaliches, Quezon City, Philippines and from one of my team building activities in Mindanao. CREATING INNER SPACE Maureen Conroy, RSM             Very often, our lives get so busy! Our outer lives are filled with work, carrying out projects, taking care of family and community needs.   Our inner lives are often cluttered with anxieties, worries, plans for the future. We take little time to stop, look, and listen to ourselves, to God, or to others.   We often get caught up in only doing for others and neglect the gift to just be wit...
Read more

WHERE MY HEART IS

Image
I was reading the newspaper this morning and the front page was filled with stories about St. Pedro Calungsod.   My thoughts drifted around this person as I tried to get to know more about him. I learned that he was around 14 at that time he joined Fr. Diego Luis de San Vitores SJ on a trip to the Ladrones (Marianas today) Islands on June 16, 1668.   They were on a mission to the islands when some of the natives attacked them.   Instead of running for his life, he protected Fr. Diego and was killed in the fray. He died because he was protecting a friend. In essence, he died protecting the mission and gave his life to save another person. Such selfless act is indeed admirable. Pedro died on April 2, 1672. My thoughts then turned to another person whom I personally knew way back in my college days who also did the same thing. He died saving others and who knows, perhaps someday he, like Pedro Calungsod, might become another Filipino Saint. ...
Read more

We need books so we can learn how to read...

Image
As a young boy, I loved to go to the library and borrow books. Now that I'm older, I go to the bookstore and buy a book. In one of my trips here in Mindanao, I felt so sad to see what sort of books we offer to kids in the rural areas.  Oh yes, the library had books, but most of it were text books that were already old and obsolete. The head teacher told me that these books were up for burning once DepEd has inspected it. (I was wondering why they need to burn it instead of just recycling it). The library didn't have a single story book or those books with pretty pictures for kids to marvel at.  What they had were text books that the students had to share year after year! If these were the books in the library, and these were the same books used by teachers to educate their students, just think of what sort of knowledge we are feeding the minds of our children in the rural areas.  At least the head teacher painted the library and placed all sorts of newspape...
Read more