The Memorial of Saint Raymond of Penyafort
Beloved, if God loved us in this way, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God remains in us, and his love has been perfected in us.
By this we know that we remain in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him, and he in God. We know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and he who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him. In this, love has been made perfect among us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, because as he is, even so we are in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love.
God, give the king your justice; your righteousness to the royal son. He will judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice.
The kings of Tarshish and of the islands will bring tribute. The kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.
For he will deliver the needy when he cries; the poor, who has no helper. He will have pity on the poor and needy. He will save the souls of the needy.
Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he himself sent the multitude away. After he had taken leave of them, he went up the mountain to pray.
When evening had come, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and he was alone on the land. Seeing them distressed in rowing, for the wind was contrary to them, about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea; 6:48 See Job 9:8 and he would have passed by them, but they, when they saw him walking on the sea, supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw him and were troubled. But he immediately spoke with them and said to them, "Cheer up! It is I! Don't be afraid." He got into the boat with them; and the wind ceased, and they were very amazed among themselves, and marveled; for they hadn't understood about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.
We celebrate Saint Raymond of Penyafort today, a thirteenth-century Spanish priest known for his work in canon law and his dedication to bringing people back to the faith. He understood something profound about God's persistent love that connects beautifully with our readings.
What strikes me most about the Gospel is how Jesus sees his disciples struggling in the storm from far away. He doesn't wait for them to call out for help—he comes to them in the midst of their distress. This is the same love John writes about in our first reading: "God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God."
I find it fascinating that the disciples think Jesus is a ghost when he walks on water. Sometimes when God shows up in our lives in unexpected ways, we don't recognize him either. We might dismiss that moment of peace during a difficult conversation as coincidence, or overlook the friend who calls exactly when we need encouragement.
The psalm speaks of a king who delivers the needy and has pity on the poor. This isn't just about material poverty—we all have moments when we feel spiritually or emotionally needy, when the winds of life are contrary to us and we're struggling to make progress.
What I find beautiful here is that perfect love casts out fear. When Jesus gets in the boat, the wind stops, but more importantly, he says, "It is I! Don't be afraid." His presence transforms everything. We don't have to wait for the storms of our Wednesday afternoons to pass—we can invite Christ into the boat of our daily struggles.
Saint Raymond knew that God's love pursues us relentlessly, even when we're rowing hard against contrary winds.
When have you experienced God's presence in an unexpected way? What fears might be keeping you from recognizing Christ's approach in your current circumstances?