Welcome to "A Word of Hope"! In this episode, Father Yamil Samalot Rivera, speaking from Our Lady of the Rosary Priory in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, invites us to contemplate a powerful Gospel scene from Matthew 14.
Jesus has just finished his ministry to the crowds. Rather than remain with them, he withdraws into solitude to pray—to be alone with his loving Father. Meanwhile, his apostles find themselves tossed about by heavy waves far out at sea, gripped by fear and anxiety. Then Christ appears, walking serenely across the turbulent waters, calling out: "Take courage. It is I. Do not be afraid."
The contrast is striking: Jesus radiates serenity from the deep well of contemplation, while his disciples are consumed by fear.
Even Peter, despite witnessing Jesus's calm presence, fails to recognize the gentle voice of his friend and demands a sign. Yet Jesus immediately reaches out to save him, gently noting his lack of faith.
Father Yamil offers a profound lesson: We can only grow in faith if we learn to retreat in solitude, to be alone with the loving heart of our Father, God. St. John Vianney exemplified this perfectly—a priest completely devoted to ministry precisely because of his deep, living communion with God in prayer.
In our anxious, restless world, this Gospel calls us back to the transformative power of contemplation.
Timeline
- 0:00-0:16 – Introduction & Setting
- 0:17-0:54 – Gospel Context: Jesus Withdraws to Pray
- 0:55-1:27 – The Contrasting Scenes: Christ's Serenity vs. Apostles' Anxiety
- 1:28-2:25 – Peter's Doubt & Jesus's Rescue & Gentle Rebuke
- 2:26-2:49 – The Power of Contemplation & Connection with God
- 2:50-3:04 – St. John Vianney: A Model of Prayerful Ministry
- 3:05-3:33 – Closing Blessing
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