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Living in the Fourth Watch of the Night ... - Catholic Online Dier. "there are four watches in the night, and four watches in the day.''. How often do we live our lives in the fourth watch of the night? At that time, Jesus made the Disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds. They, as yet not free from the popular superstitions of their countrymen, thought that it was “a spirit” (better, a phantom, or spectre) taking the familiar form, it might be, to lure them to their destruction, or as a token that some sudden mischance had deprived them of that loved Presence, and, therefore, in their vague terror, they were troubled, and cried out for fear. The night was divided into four watches: The first watch was from six in the evening until nine at night. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. Walking on the sea - A manifest and wonderful miracle. (Catholic Online) - I have the joy of proclaiming the Gospel this weekend during Holy Mass. (r) Gloss. The first watch began at six o'clock in the evening, and lasted till nine; the second began at nine, and ended at twelve, which was midnight; the third began at twelve, and closed at three; the fourth began at three, and ended at six in the morning. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Most people donate because Catholic Online is useful. This watch is the time that satanic agents who went out to perform their activities are returning to their bases. I say "too familiar" because we can tend to simply stop listening when it is proclaimed because we have heard it so often! (25) In the fourth watch of the night.--The Jews, since their conquest by Pompeius, had adopted the Roman division of the night into four watches, and this was accordingly between 3 A.M. and 6 A.M., in the dimness of the early dawn. One of the four ancient divisions of the night during which official prayers were offered in the early days of the Church. Show the volunteers who bring you reliable, Catholic information that their work matters. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2021 Catholic Online. The fourth watch was from 3 to 6 a.m. After they got into the boat, the wind died down. And in the fourth watch of the night - The Jews anciently divided the night into three parts of four hours each, usually called watches. Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! Oftentimes too in the fourth watch of the night, between 3 and 4 a.m., I return to the chapel, for with my cares I cannot long rest. The story is one of my favorites. 1. Our fears so cripple us that we are unable to even recognize the Lord, the One who is always there, always coming to guide us on His way. 3. Fourth Watch: 3:00 – 6:00 am. He responded in faith to the voice of His Lord. It is also one which is familiar - almost too familiar - to most of us. This is the time of the morning when the Israelites were delivered from slavery in Egypt ( Exodus 12 and 14 ). cxix. & in Psal. Jesus walks on the waters of the sea of Galilee. That "fourth watch" always included the darkest hour. Beracot, fol. 54. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law. We can always find Him in the fourth watch of the night, if we choose to respond in faith. Nighttime in Scripture is divided into four three-hour periods called "watches." All about how some believe God works most actively under the cover of darkness, particularly between the hours of 3 a.m. to 6 a.m.—“the fourth watch of the night,” so called be­cause the ancient Romans divided the night into four watches of the military guard. Revised Standard Version. 1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the reputation of Jesus. Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" In this verse, Jesus is witnessed by his disciples as having walked on the water in the sea of Galilee. We also learn a new way of living- and of loving. "It is a ghost," they said, and they cried out in fear. The little boat was 4 or 5 miles from the shore, tossed by the billows. I never thought of the nighttime as sacred. The watches extended from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. This watch is the time that satanic agents who went out to perform their activities are returning to their bases. ab Alex. In the time of our Saviour they divided the night into four watches, the fourth having been introduced by the Romans. It was in a dark night. Why Does Jesus Sometimes Wait Until the 4th Watch of the Night – 9th Sunday of Pentecost. Nineteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time (A) | Fr John Farrell reflects on what the Lord says to us in our darkest and most unsettling moments. Jacob wrestled with God and met Him face to face just before entering into his destiny as Israel. Mattityahu 14:25 (OJB) Now in the fourth watch of the night (between three o’oclock and six o’clock in the morning), Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach came to them, walking on the lake. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. in T. Bab. The 3am – 6am prayer watch is the fourth and final watch of the night. Keywords: Living faith, discipleship, Jesus walks on water, Peter walks on water, Deacon Keith Fournier. Even in the fourth watch of the night, there is a bridge between fear and freedom, it passes through Jesus who tells all who will fix their eyes upon Him "Take Courage; it is I; Be Not Afraid.". In biblical terms, the fourth watch of the night begins at 3 a.m. (t) Liv. The winds and sea raged and they became horribly afraid. We live much of our daily life in the "fourth watch of the night", in the midst of the tumultuous waves of struggles. The fourth watch is the last portion of the night, so we always need to be ready to arise and watch. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. Do not be afraid!” He spoke with such reassurance and tenderness. Matthew 14:25 (RHE) And in the fourth watch of the night, he came to them walking upon the sea. If you are one of our rare donors, you have our gratitude and we warmly thank you. The third prayer watches of the night 12AM – 3AM is one of the most important watches. After it was all over, they even collected up twelve baskets full! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. 4. c. 20. "At once Jesus spoke to them, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid." He invites us to respond in faith as well. Echa Rabbati, fol. It is true indeed, that it is disputed among them, whether there were four watches, or only three in the night: some say there were four, others say there were but three (p); not but that these made a division of the night into four parts, the three first of which, they thought were properly the watches of the night, and the fourth was the morning. Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. Today, we humbly ask you to defend Catholic Online's independence. He said, "Come." 8 WATCHES ON THE CLOCK There are 8 watches in a day (4 watches at night and 4 watches at night). Ask the Lord … And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. 2 and … The word generally refers to the day and means the hour of dawn or soon after (Genesis 19:2, 2 Chronicles 36:15, Hosea 6:4, Luke 24:22). It invites us to live differently, to walk on the waters of daily life by dynamic, living faith: "After he had fed the people, Jesus made the disciples get into a boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. we may see in it something like an anticipation (not unconnected, it may be, with the intensity of that crisis in His life) of that spiritual body of which we see another manifestation in the Transfiguration, and which became normal after the Resurrection, reaching its completeness in the wonder of the Ascension. (s) Alex. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night (3:00-6:00 a.m.) Jesus came to them, walking on the sea. This fourth watch is always important because this is the last watch of the night. 36, c. 24. They had seen the Lord take what little bread that they had, multiply it, and give it back to them - so that they could feed the very crowd they had suggested be sent away. During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them walking on the sea. walking upon the sea; as on dry land: though it was so stormy and boisterous, that the disciples, though in a ship, were in the utmost danger, yet he upon the waves, was in none at all; by which action he showed himself to be the Lord of the sea, and to be truly and properly God; whose character is, that he "treadeth upon the waves of the sea", Job 9:8. If you donate just $5.00, or whatever you can, Catholic Online could keep thriving for years. Saint of the Day for Thursday, May 13th, 2021. 2. "(Gospel of St. Matthew 14: 22-33). They thought that God Incarnate was a "ghost". 26 When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. The Savior had just fed the five thousand. Genial. The disciples had just returned from experiencing the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves. Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible. The fourth watch is that point where you wake up and it is so dark, you look at the clock beside your bed, and you sigh deeply – you can still sleep for another 2 hours. 'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education', Free Online Catholic Classes for Anyone, Anywhere, Catholic schools, and the Church are going extinct in America, and the blame is found within, 'To love like Christ': Pope Francis explains what it means to love like Jesus. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. New American Standard Bible 48 Seeing them [ a]straining at the oars, for the wind was against them, at about the [ b] fourth watch of the night He *came to them, … It was on the fourth watch that Jesus walked on water, as we read in Matthew 14:25-33 “And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea……” This is the watch where we pray for the activities of the day ahead and establish them in the spiritual, before we establish them on the flesh. The first watch begins at 6 p.m. and ends at 9 p.m. One of the mentions of the fourth watch of the night is in Matthew 14:25 of the New Testament. Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. To all our readers, Please don't scroll past this. NIGHT WATCH A sacred vigil or guard. But since some (q) Jewish writers are so positive for the division of the night into three watches only, and a watch is with them called (r) the third part of the night; and it is dubious with some, whether the Jewish division is here referred to; and since it is so clear a point, that the Romans (s) divided their night into four watches, and their writers speak not only of the first, second, and third watches, but also of the fourth watch (t); it is thought by some, that the evangelist speaks after the Roman manner: but however, certain it is, that within this period, probably at the beginning of it, after three o'clock in the morning, Christ came to his disciples, when they had been almost all the night at sea, tossed with waves, and in great danger. This is the watch that is also known as the witching hour or devil’s hour. No such questions would seem to have suggested themselves to the disciples. On the former supposition. Until I came across something on­line. This watch is the time that satanic agents who went out to perform their activities are returning to their bases. Time for deliverance, to … Jesus went unto them; from the mountain where he had been praying, the greatest part of the night, to the sea side, and so upon the waters to them; for it follows. Chapter Parallel. We live much of our daily life in the "fourth watch of the night", at the time just before daybreak. He meant to pass by them, Thank you. Herod’s Opinion of Jesus. Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. Copyright 2021 Catholic Online. When we turn our faith into a verb, we too get our "sea legs" as they say in the nautical culture. Peter said to him in reply, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." (c) By the fourth watch is meant the time nearer to day break: for in ancient times they divided the night into four watches in which they posted watches. We are often filled with fear and crippled as a result and unable to see the Lord right there, on the horizon of hope. It is the middle of the night. The fact is this story is meant for you and for me - for the here and now! When it was evening he was there alone. Stay up to date with the latest news, information, and special offers. 1. Three hours to go before dawn will break - "the fourth watch of the night". Jesus went unto them, walking on the water, Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers. 147. They knew that he was able to work miracles - and that they had been invited to participate in this extraordinary act of love, by simply giving the little they had. That is what we see happening with Peter in this wonderful account. Fourth Watch (The Morning Watch from 3:00 A.M. to 6:00 A.M.) This fourth watch is always important because this is the last watch of the night. 4. 1, 2. Walking on the sea.—Here, again, we have to choose between the simple acceptance of the supernatural fact as another instance of His sovereignty, or rejecting it as a legend. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" We make the mistake of thinking it is only about Peter and the disciples - something distant which happened over two millenia ago. We live our lives now in Jesus Christ and we are at home in the Boat of the Church. In Mark 13:35 35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: (Mark 13:35) they are all four mentioned; namely, "even," "midnight," "cockcrowing," and "morning." When he walked by faith, he walked into the freedom that comes from Jesus, the Lord of the winds and the sea. When he kept his eyes focused on Jesus he was able to do what seemed to be impossible. It was during the fourth watch that Jesus came walking on the water to rescue his frightened apostles who were in their boat, struggling to survive a severe storm. The Christian Vocation and Living in the ‘Fourth Watch of the Night’ By Deacon Keith Fournier As a Deacon in the Catholic Church, I have the joy of proclaiming the Gospel during Holy Mass. When we do, faith helps us to overcome our fear and walk into freedom. Fear simply becomes a field of choice, an occasion for trust. If Catholic Online has given you $5.00 worth of knowledge this year, take a minute to donate. We make the mistake of thinking it is only about Peter and the disciples - something distant which happened over two millenia ago. Prayers to carry the overcoming anointing against the works of the flesh. Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, "Truly, you are the Son of God. 4. The four watches of the night are at three-hour intervals. P>CHESAPEAKE,VA. ((q) Jaschi & Kimchi in Jude 7.19. (p) T. Bab. The first of these watches is mentioned in Lamentations 2:19, the middle watch in Judges 7:19, and the morning watch in Exodus 14:24. 98% of our readers don't give; they simply look the other way. Now, He just wanted to pray, to commune with the Father. When evening came, He was there alone, but the Disciples’ boat by this time was … During the fourth watch (between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m.), the glory of God seems to increase in our midst. And about the fourth watch of the night[ a] he came to them, walking on the sea. In this parable the second and third watches are mentioned as necessary for the completeness of the picture; for the banquet would certainly not be over before the end of the first watch, and in the fourth the day would be breaking. The second watch was nine until midnight, the third watch from midnight until three in the morning, and the fourth watch from three in the morning until six, about sunrise. "Take Courage, it is I; do not be afraid." The Fourth Watch of the Night . 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