We Must Keep Focused On Jesus

By Bishop Paul S. Loverde
Herald Columnist
(From the issue of 8/11/05)

The following homily was given by Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde on the 19th Sunday in Ordinary time at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington on Aug. 7.

What lesson can we learn from today’s Scripture readings, especially the Gospel, for our continuing growth in faith? Indeed, there are many lessons we could learn, but allow me to invite our reflection on one. In doing so, we shall direct our attention to St. Peter.

In many ways, we resemble St. Peter. Notice that in today’s Gospel scene, St. Peter obeys Christ’s word. "Peter said to him in reply, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ He said, ‘Come’. Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water towards Jesus." But then, St. Peter began to sink. Why did this happen? Because he lost his focus. Instead of remaining focused on Jesus, he turned away and then began to see "how strong the wind was." Yes, when St. Peter changed his focus — away from Jesus, he began to sink and then cried out, "Lord, save me!"

We do resemble St. Peter, do we not? We often initially obey Christ’s word, but how quickly we lose our focus when we no longer keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. So, the lesson is clear: we must remain focused on Jesus, for He alone is "the way, the truth and the life" for each of us. In all of life’s events, in both the good and the not so good, in the expected and in the unexpected, in sunshine and in shadow, we must keep our eyes — and our hearts — fixed on the Lord Jesus!

But, how do we keep focused on Jesus in practical ways? Let me point out three. The first is prayer. I do not mean a perfunctory kind of prayer, but that kind of prayer which is genuine, because it expresses our relationship to Christ. Through this kind of prayer, we adore the Lord, we thank Him, we seek His help, and we express sorrow for our sins and make reparation. This kind of prayer occurs daily, yes, in the morning as we arise from sleep and in the evening before we go to sleep. Of course, we live busy lives, but we must make time for prayer during the day — five or 10 minutes, at least, when we focus on the Lord Jesus, using the Gospels, for examples, to help us. Or even better, we make our way to a church to be with Christ really and truly present in the Blessed Sacrament, hearing His word and listening, as it were, to the beating of His Heart (cf Mane Nobiscum Domine, no. 18).

There is also the prayer we offer as we receive the sacraments, especially penance and the holy Eucharist. Right now, we are united with Christ in offering the most perfect prayer we have as we participate in this Eucharistic sacrifice. In prayer, both personal and liturgical, we remain focused on Christ Jesus. In prayer, He stretches out His hand to us and deepens our faith, our union with Him.

If prayer is the first way by which we focus on Christ, a second way is our ongoing formation in faith. The focus of this formation is obviously the Person of Jesus Christ. I call this formation ongoing because, although it begins in childhood, it is intended to continue all life long until the day comes when we depart this life to enter upon eternal life, where, by His mercy, we shall see the Lord face to face. This formation is ongoing because it really is about our relationship with Jesus in faith, hope and love. Human relationships that nurture us continue to develop as long as we live; friends experience this and so do married couples. It can be no less in our relationship with Jesus. So then, we keep focused on Jesus as we deepen our formation in faith all life long.

The third way on which we keep focused on the Lord is by our witness to Him. Obviously, our Christian witness has for its object the Lord Himself. As we witness, we are simultaneously evangelizing. In this witness of evangelization, we point to the Lord Jesus, by our personal example and by the right word spoken at the right time. In this witness, as we invite people to come to the Lord, we ourselves are keeping focused on Him. Otherwise, our witness would cease to be Christ-centered.

Yes, among the practical ways by which we remain focused on Christ, these three we have considered today: prayer, ongoing formation in faith and personal witness.

Like St. Peter, we initially obey Christ. Like him, we can begin to drift and to sink unless we keep focused on Jesus. Through prayer, ongoing formation and personal witness, we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. He and He alone must be our focus every day until, through His mercy, we see Him face to face in the eternal life to which He has called us from the moment of our baptism. Amen.

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