August 10, 2008
19TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
GOSPEL: GOD MOMENTS
One YouTube clip of magician Criss Angel shows him stepping off the side of a swimming pool and walking out onto the surface of the water. It looks like he’s walking on an unseen floor a few inches below the surface. Then a swimmer passes beneath him, sinking the idea that there must be some underwater support. There are no cables suspending him in the air. In mid-pool, he kicks off his shoes and continues barefoot to the other side of the pool. Astounded spectators cannot believe their eyes. But despite their amazement, everyone seems to know that somehow this is merely a trick they can’t figure out.
In the middle of the night storm, far out on the Sea of Galilee, the already terrified disciples encountered Jesus walking to them on the water. Such a reality must have taken their breath away, leaving them barely able to exclaim: “Truly you are the Son of God.”