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.”
Application. 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.
Chapter XXXIV.
JESUS PROMISES TO GIVE THE BREAD OF LIFE.
[John 6, 24 — 72.]
MANY of those who had been miraculously fed by our Lord returned next morning to Caphamaum, where they sought and found Him in the synagogue[1]. Here Jesus addressed them,
- ↑ The synagogue. When they found Him, they asked: “Rabbi, when earnest Thou hither?” They could not understand when and how Jesus, who, as they knew, had not embarked with His disciples, could have come to Capharnaum. He did not answer their questionings, but uttered to them a reproach which proved Him to be a discerner of their hearts.
