L ife is a matter of choices, and every choice you make makes you.

Monday in the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Numbers 11:4b-15

Psalm 81:12-13, 14-15, 16-17

M atthew 14:13-21 Then he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. (23) And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, (24) but the boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them. (25) And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. (26) But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. (27) But immediately he spoke to them, saying, "Take heart, it is I; have no fear." (28) And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water." (29) He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; (30) but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." (31) Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "O man of little faith, why did you doubt?" (32) And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. (33) And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." (34) And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. (35) And when the men of that place recognized him, they sent round to all that region and brought to him all that were sick, (36) and besought him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment; and as many as touched it were made well. 

* Meditation by Pat Borchers

It’s tempting to comment on the Gospel reading of Matthew’s account of the loaves and the fishes, but the reading is familiar to all and I fear that I would have little to say that you, the reader, haven’t thought of already.

But the first reading about the children of Israel lamenting their lack of food and their nostalgia about their captivity in Egypt spoke directly to me.  I am not one of those people who suffers in silence when facing a challenge, whether it be physical, emotional or what have you.  To some extent this is part of my coping mechanism because it helps me to talk about it with other people.  There’s a certain healthy aspect to this I suppose, but I fear I often underestimate Evil One’s deviousness.  One way that he tries to trick us is to trap us into self pity.  “See, if God really loved you and cared about you, he wouldn’t do this to you!”  So he tempts us into self pity and ignoring other people because after all we’re suffering.  Of course it’s good to try to get help but to give God the cold shoulder is exactly what the Evil One wants us to do.  If he can do that, he can turn us from children of God into children of self pity and self indulgence.  We can’t let it happen.

* Supplementary Reading

The power of Right Choices by  John C. Maxwell

. . . He will instruct them in the ways they should choose. – Psalm 25:12

L ife is a matter of choices, and every choice you make makes you. What will you do for your career: Who will you marry? Where will you live? How much education will you get? What will you do with today? But one of the most important choices you will make is who will you become! Life is not merely a matter of holding and playing a good hand as you would hope to do in a card game. What you start with isn't up to you. Talent is God-given. Life is playing the hand you have been dealt well. That is determined by your choices.

The talent-plus people are the ones who maximize their talent, reach their potential, and fulfill their destiny.

I was reading a book by Dr. Seuss to my grandchildren called Oh, the Places You'll Go! In it, I found a wonderful truth. It said,

You have brains in your head

You have feet in your shoes

You can steer yourself

Any direction you choose.

I believe that with all my heart. My prayer is that you steer yourself in the right direction and make right choices that will empower you to become a talent-plus person, build upon the foundation of your abilities, and live your life to its fullest potential.

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Maximize your talent by steering your entire life in the right direction.

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