He who is faithful in little will be faithful in much

“Many Christians have what we might call a "cultural holiness". They adapt to the character and behavior pattern of Christians around them. As the Christian culture around them is more or less holy, so these Christians are more or less holy. But God has not called us to be like those around us. He has called us to be like himself. Holiness is nothing less than conformity to the character of God.”

Gospel text (Mt 14,22-36):
Jesus made the disciples get into a boat
and precede him to the other side of the sea,
while he dismissed the crowds.
After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.
When it was evening he was there alone.
Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore,
was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it.
During the fourth watch of the night,
he came toward them, walking on the sea.
When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified.
“It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear.
At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”
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 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?”
After they got into the boat, the wind died down.
Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying,
“Truly, you are the Son of God.”

After making the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret.
When the men of that place recognized him,
they sent word to all the surrounding country.
People brought to him all those who were sick
and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak,
and as many as touched it were healed.

If you saw Jesus walking on water, what would you say? You might be too shocked to say anything. Like the apostles, you might say: "It is a ghost" or a hallucination (Mt 14:26). Maybe some people would say: "Praise the Lord!" But who would say with Peter: "Lord, if it is really You, tell me to come to You across the water"? (Mt 14:28) Peter was often different. What made him say such a thing?

Perhaps Peter intuitively grasped the essence of discipleship when he asked to walk on the water. Christian discipleship is to imitate Jesus — not merely in a general way but as exactly as possible. As far as possible, disciples walk, think, feel, work, love, talk, see, and live as Jesus does. Disciples are interested in walking on the water only in imitation of Jesus.

Are you preoccupied with imitating Jesus? Do you read the Bible so as to better imitate Jesus? Do you go to confession regularly and pray the Rosary daily? Do you consider it a "good day" or a "good life" based on how well you imitate Jesus?

Think discipleship. Think the imitation of Christ.