ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA

Dear Friends in our Lord Jesus Christ,

It is a joy to be with you this morning in the celebration of the Eucharist.  I  extend a warm welcome as you gather in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for the 2011 convention of the Calix Society on the theme: Let the Oppressed Go Free: Breaking the Bonds of Addiction.

The central action in the midst of the Gospel passage which the Church gives us for this Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time is the moment when Jesus stretches out His hand to save St. Peter.  The Gospel tells us that the disciples had gotten into a boat to precede Jesus to the other shore. In the midst of the night, the boat became engulfed with waves.  Notice that Jesus is on the mountain in prayer with the Father, and at the same time the disciples are in confusion and bewilderment.  So often we are tempted to see reality from only one perspective, that of the world. We are tempted to judge our condition by the world alone.  But no matter how badly the world may buffet us, it is Jesus the Lord who is our Center.  He is the One who prays on our behalf to the Father in the Holy Spirit, and nothing disturbs His prayer.  In fact, the prayer of Jesus is the center of the world.

The Gospel tells us that Jesus, from His prayer with the Father, comes to his disciples. Jesus approaches and invites St. Peter to come to him across the water.  Recall that water in Sacred Scripture sometimes represents chaos and disorder.  Jesus walks upon, transcends the chaos and disorder of the world and of sin.  When Peter accepts the invitation of Jesus, and starts to walk toward the Lord on the water, He becomes frightened. He begins to sink, and cries out to Jesus, “Lord, save me!” The Gospel tells us, “Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter” (Mt 14:31).  Notice the close connection between the plea of Peter for salvation and the response of Jesus in stretching out His sacred hand.  Notice as well, Peter does not cry out, “Lord, fix me!” Rather, he cries out, “Lord, save me!” And, as soon as that plea, “save,” reaches the ears of Jesus, the Son of God, the Word made flesh (Jn 1:14), He responds immediately.

Peter was an experienced fisherman.  He was an expert at seamanship.  Yet his boat was being battered by the winds and tossed about by the waves.  Nothing he had experienced prepared him for this bitter moment.  This is true for all of us, and in a particular way for those who experience addiction.  We are often like ships on a stormy sea, tossed about in directions we had never dreamed of.  The conflicts and hardships of life, as well as our wounds and weaknesses, often propel us into confusing and unpredictable situations. In such painful moments, so many are tempted to seek refuge in coping mechanisms such as the misuse and abuse of alcohol. Alcohol can seem like a way out, but, in fact, it only draws us deeper into danger.  Even when Jesus approaches the boat, the disciples do not recognize Him.  In fact, they begin to think their dire situation is worsening: they think He is a ghost (Mt 14:26).  We too, at times, can so focus on ourselves, that even the intervention that is aimed at saving us appears threatening.  But as with Peter, Jesus is present in the midst of the storm.  When we call, He stretches forth His hand into the very center of our distress to rescue us, to save us.

The action of Jesus that forms the center of the Gospel reading just proclaimed a moment ago―that stretching forth of His hand to save Peter―is not the last time Jesus stretched forth His hand.  He will do so again on Calvary, this time to save not only Peter, but to offer His salvation to the world.  The Church longs to provide spiritual assistance and pastoral resources to our brothers and sisters who suffer from alcoholism.  All of our efforts begin with the outstretched hand of Jesus.  When we face the old temptations of the false self, when we encounter the deception of sin, the illusions of the world, discouragement with the journey and frustration at our past, present or future, it is then that we must cling above all to Jesus in and through His Church. In simple living faith, we must, again and again, firmly entrust our entire soul to the Lord.  He alone is the One who opens new dimensions in our life. He draws us into the inner meaning of every hour, every moment.  In the first reading, the Book of Kings describes the encounter of Elijah with the presence of God.  God was not in the heavy wind, the earthquake or the fire.  He was in the tiny whispering sound.  God hides inexhaustible riches and inner treasures deep in the ordinary moments of life, and even more deeply in the painful places of life.

We often make the same mistake that Peter made.  In the midst of great difficulties and the pains of life he relied on his own strength.  Peter had yet to learn the lesson of powerlessness, that when we are weak, it is then that we are strong.  Jesus continually invites Peter to allow the Holy Spirit to enter his life and become the source of his strength.  Jesus invites us to this strength of the Spirit as well.  The Lord offers us His strength through the life of grace which we find in the Sacraments, especially in the Sacrament of Penance and in participation in the Most Holy Eucharist.  In our worthy reception of the Eucharist and in time of sacred adoration before our Lord, it is then that He reaches out His hand just as surely as He did to St. Peter, just as surely as He did upon the Cross for our salvation.  We encounter Jesus in our personal prayer, in spiritual reading, in meditation on the lives of the Saints, in friendship, and preeminently in entrusting ourselves to our Blessed Mother Mary through her holy Rosary.   The Lord also gives us natural means of healing. When we take advantage of prudent counseling, of the wisdom of time-tested Twelve Step groups and of the support of a seasoned sponsor, the Lord stretches forth His hand to us. He gives us His own strength.

The Church greatly appreciates your efforts, your efforts to stretch out your hand, after the example of Jesus, to others through caring outreach and the spirituality of the Twelve Steps. Your compassion, patience and time all reflect the love of Jesus for those who suffer from addiction, for their families and friends.  For Catholics who are in the Twelve Steps, we depend on God who saves us, and who at the same time sends us, to plunge back into the darkness as servants of the hand of Jesus Christ.  Do not forget that as God sends us to others, they also minister to us. The grace of sobriety, as you share it, you continue to receive it. 

The central action of Jesus in today’s Gospel is the stretching out of His hand to those in need, in distress.  We come together today to allow Jesus to stretch His hand out to us, to further free us from those things that hold us bound, so that, unencumbered, we may go forth and discover those who long to be within reach of His saving hand.  May our participation in this Eucharist free our hearts more deeply and strengthen us more surely that we might turn to one another, even in the midst of our own needs, and strengthen one another on our journey to God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.