Why Did You Doubt?

Memorial of Saint John Vianney, Priest

By Melanie Rigney

(The Lord told Moses, Aaron, and Miriam:) “Now listen to the words of the Lord: Should there be a prophet among you, in visions will I reveal myself to him, in dreams will I speak to him; not so with my servant Moses! Throughout my house he bears my trust: face to face I speak to him; plainly and not in riddles. The presence of the Lord he beholds.” (Numbers 12:6-8)

Cast me not off from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me. (Psalm 51:12-13)

Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water

Alessandro Allori,
Peter Walking on Water,
Wikimedia Public Domain

toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:29-31)

Piety

Lord, help me to be obedient to your call.

Study

It was the year 30 or so when Peter got out of the boat and walked on water. It didn’t work for long, of course, as he then lacked complete trust in his friend Jesus. That would come later. He would be fearless in his obedience, all the way to his death.

It was 1924 when Helena Kowalska, almost nineteen and nobody special in the eyes of most of the world, left a dance and got on a train to Warsaw to join a convent. She was at a dance when Jesus gave her the message; she didn’t tarry long enough to say good-bye to her parents. When she got to Warsaw, not one convent embraced her with open arms. One finally agreed to take her when she could pay for her habit. It took a year of domestic work before she could do that… and took the name Faustina. She would be fearless in her effort to be obedient to the Lord’s request that the first Sunday after Easter should be celebrated as the Feast of Mercy and that the prayer practice He gave her, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, would become known.

It was 1946 when Mother Teresa was on a train headed for Darjeeling, India, and heard what she referred to as a “call within a call.” She was thirty-six, and had been teaching in India for seventeen years. In the next fifty years, she would be fearless in answering that call, ministering to the poorest of the poor around the world through the Missionaries of the Charity Sisters, shrugging off criticisms and accusations.

Peter, Faustina, and Teresa were all ordinary people; they had flaws and fears. What made them different was their willingness to put aside their own stuff and follow. And we are capable of the same. It can be difficult to believe that, to believe in ourselves. May we all remember it’s not about us, but about God, who doesn’t make mistakes… and provides all we need if only we trust enough to say, “Yes!”

Action

It’s 2015. Listen. Can you hear it? The Lord is calling to you, whether it’s on a boat or train, in your car or living room. Be fearless in your answer.