St. Joseph Old Cathedral in Oklahoma City shared their letter from the pastor from the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time. 

Rev. Brian Buettner shared his congratulations to all of the young individuals who had received their First Holy Communion.

“Receiving the gift of the Eucharist is such a blessing that pulls our heart closer to the Lord,” Buettner said in the letter 

The feeding of the five thousand and St. Peter’s experience of walking on water has a message for all of us, he continued. 

“Jesus left the crowds, went to a quiet place and prayed into the night as his apostles took the boats and crossed the Sea of Galilee,” Buettner said. “In the darkest time of the night, Jesus approached his disciples walking on the water. They were terrified, but after learning it was Jesus, St. Peter desired to walk on the water too.”

Upon thinking that he was walking on water in his own strength, Peter began to sink. We too must be honest with ourselves and resist the temptation to trust our own abilities. 

“In reality, it is not our doing at all, but that of the Lord’s. Let us pray to always trust in the Lord rather than ourselves,” Buettner said.