18th Week in Ordinary Time

Walking across a turbulent sea, Jesus came to the rescue when Peter tried it but started to sink. The Disciples wondered what went wrong when they failed to bring healing to someone unable to heed physical dangers. Jesus taught that “impossible” would no longer apply if they had faith the size of a mustard seed. On the other hand, a Canaanite woman had faith enough to put differences in beliefs aside and plead with Jesus to heal her daughter. Pharisees and scribes preferred sticking to the letter of the law and asked Jesus why His disciples skipped washing their hands before eating. The Lord said that defilement results from what comes out of a person’s mouth, not what goes in. The Transfiguration let Peter, James, and John see the Lord in glory. When our efforts have less than glorious results, does failure lead us to pray for greater faith?