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Today’s podcast focusses on the Gospel of Matthew 14:22-33. It will be read in churches on August the 9, 2026. This Gospel is unusual. The Gospel focusses on Jesus’ walking on water and when asked by the disciple Peter, Jesus invites Peter to walk on water with him. There is no other Gospel like it. There are two other Gospels that are very unusual too. We have the account of the Transfiguration, from Matthew 17:1–9 and the story about “Paying the Temple Tax” where Jesus is asked to pay a temple tax and he instructs Peter to go out fishing for him and Peter catches a fish with the coin in his mouth, Matthew 17:24–27. I am not sure I could write a homily on that Gospel. It may not mean anything, but I noticed that the disciple Peter is involved in all three of the unusual Gospel experiences.

I would like to focus your attention to the dialogue between Peter and Jesus. Peter asks if he can come to him. Jesus says yes and Peter jumps out but fear gets to him and he starts to sink. Notice that Jesus does not comment on Peter’s fear but rather his lack of faith.

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Today’s Gospel is one of the two stories of Jesus feeding a large crowd. I have spoken about this theme before. I invite my listeners to check out my podcasts released on June 15, 2025, and another on July 21, 2024, for different reflections on this Scripture passage. What is noteworthy is that Jesus uses the meagre contribution of humans to do great things. There are many examples of Jesus using the contribution of humans to do so much more. In Matthew 14:13–21; Mark 6:30–44; Luke 9:10–17; John 6:1–15 — the feeding of the 5,000: a boy’s loaves and fish are brought to Jesus, and he multiplies them. In Matthew 15:32–39; Mark 8:1–10 — the feeding of the 4,000: the available bread and fish are used to feed the crowd.

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The Gospel for July 26, 2026 continues with the theme of describing the kingdom of God. Again, the kingdom of God appears to be something we live here on Earth. Jesus is not addressing what Heaven will be like but rather teaching us how to achieve Heaven. It appears the Gospel is a collection of teachings of Jesus linked together by common theme. There are a couple of themes worth noting here. We have an individual finding treasure and sell everything so that he can obtain the treasure. Nothing else is important. The selling off of possessions to purchase the field also has a notion of sacrifice and freeing up the individual to pursue what is valued by them.

This is not a new theme. Jesus requires letting go of possessions, obligations, or burdens — especially Matthew 4:18–22 / Mark 1:16–20 (the first disciples leaving nets), Luke 5:27–28 (Levi/Matthew leaving his tax booth), Luke 9:57–62 (warnings about delaying or returning for family/business), Luke 14:25–33 (the cost of discipleship and renouncing possessions), Mark 10:17–31 / Matthew 19:16–30 (the rich young man told to sell all and follow),

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