Matthew 14:22-33
Jesus told his disciples to get into the boat and to go to the other side of the lake. He said he would come later and then he stayed there to tell everyone else they could go home. After Jesus said goodbye to the people, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. It was late, and he was there alone. By this time the boat was already a long way from shore.
Since the wind was blowing against it, the boat was having trouble because of the waves. Between three and six o’clock in the morning, Jesus’ followers were still in the boat when Jesus came to them. He was walking on the water. When they saw him walking on the water, it scared them. “It’s a ghost!” they said, screaming in fear. But Jesus quickly spoke to them and said, “Don’t worry! It’s me! Don’t be afraid.”
Peter said, “Lord, if that is really you, tell me to come to you on the water.” Jesus said, “Come, Peter.” Then Peter left the boat and walked on the water to Jesus. But while Peter was walking on the water, he saw the wind and the waves and he was afraid and began sinking into the water. He shouted, “Lord, save me!” Then Jesus caught Peter with his hand. He said, “Your faith is small. Why did you doubt?”
After Peter and Jesus were in the boat, the wind stopped. Then the followers in the boat worshiped Jesus and said, “You really are the Son of God.”
This is a story about fear and about facing up to the things in the world that make us afraid. This particular story is usually read with its focus firmly on Jesus—what Jesus says, what Jesus does. But what if we read it with our focus on Peter?
In today’s story Jesus has gone off by himself to spend some time in prayer, recharging his own connection to the One he calls ‘Abba.” While he is gone, the disciples have stayed behind on their boat, and, when they were waiting, a sudden wind has come up and blown the boat away from the shore and the disciples were distracted by trying to keep themselves all safe onboard.
Suddenly, they realize that what they thought was a shadow out on the water is actually Jesus, coming out to join them on the boat—walking to them--on the water! At first they were frightened not knowing what it really was that they were seeing--is it a ghost, is it a spirit?-- but then they realize it really is Jesus, calmly walking across the lake.
At Peter’s own request, Jesus asks him to walk out and join him—and his trust in Jesus actually carries him out of the boat, onto the waves for a few steps ... but then he looks around and realizes that he is truly walking on nothing but water, and he panics and begins to sink. It is only when Jesus reaches out and grasps his hand that he knows that he truly is safe.
We are living now in a time of fear. We are disconnected from our usual routines and connections. Some days, even the ground does not feel solid anymore. Our economy is in trouble. The charts on the virus keep trending up, then down, then up again. Even those of us who are fairly comfortable now are constantly aware that things could change drastically at any time. Even our churches, for many of us the centers of our faith and trust—our stability--are unavailable to us in the forms we recognize.
And how much worse it is for those without employment, those whose jobs have disappeared with the lockdowns, those facing possible homelessness? We are like Peter, afraid that any time now we could have nothing but water under our feet. The question is: will we, like Peter, panic?
When Peter focused on what he was lacking—solid ground under his feet-- his faith weakened and he began to sink beneath the waves. When Jesus lifted Peter up, he asked him “Your faith is small. Why did you doubt?” I don’t think he was chastising Peter, just asking the question — “What happened? You were doing so well and then you began to doubt and the worry overwhelmed your faith.”
Peter did trust Jesus—he trusted from his own experience of him. After all, this event came immediately after Jesus—right there in front of everybody--had just feed 5000 people with a mere five loaves of bread and two smoked fish--but still that panic induced by finding himself walking on water—doing something utterly outside of his own expectations of life-- completely wiped all that from Peter’s thinking--and, at least temporarily, took his mind off trusting and, as our reading puts it, worry overwhelmed his faith.
We try to trust God’s promises—trust them because of the teachings of the Church, the faith of those who taught us, and our own experience of God in our lives. We, like Peter, are called to be followers, called to be Church, called to trust — even in the face of uncertain ground. Can we--will we—continue to trust? Even when we don’t know what tomorrow will bring? Even when it feels like we are out there walking on water?
We are promised, over and over, that we will never be left to face the waves of fear and uncertainty alone. And we are promised this by one who has never failed to be with us. One who chose to live with us. One who came to speak truth to us. One whose own Spirit lives within us, guiding and encouraging us.
There is no reason to doubt this promise. No reason to let worry overwhelm our faith. The one who promises is faithful and trustworthy.
God is with us, even now, reaching out a hand to lift us when we fear. Keep your eyes on that outstretched hand. Reach out and take it. It’s there for you.
In today’s story Jesus has gone off by himself to spend some time in prayer, recharging his own connection to the One he calls ‘Abba.” While he is gone, the disciples have stayed behind on their boat, and, when they were waiting, a sudden wind has come up and blown the boat away from the shore and the disciples were distracted by trying to keep themselves all safe onboard.
Suddenly, they realize that what they thought was a shadow out on the water is actually Jesus, coming out to join them on the boat—walking to them--on the water! At first they were frightened not knowing what it really was that they were seeing--is it a ghost, is it a spirit?-- but then they realize it really is Jesus, calmly walking across the lake.
At Peter’s own request, Jesus asks him to walk out and join him—and his trust in Jesus actually carries him out of the boat, onto the waves for a few steps ... but then he looks around and realizes that he is truly walking on nothing but water, and he panics and begins to sink. It is only when Jesus reaches out and grasps his hand that he knows that he truly is safe.
We are living now in a time of fear. We are disconnected from our usual routines and connections. Some days, even the ground does not feel solid anymore. Our economy is in trouble. The charts on the virus keep trending up, then down, then up again. Even those of us who are fairly comfortable now are constantly aware that things could change drastically at any time. Even our churches, for many of us the centers of our faith and trust—our stability--are unavailable to us in the forms we recognize.
And how much worse it is for those without employment, those whose jobs have disappeared with the lockdowns, those facing possible homelessness? We are like Peter, afraid that any time now we could have nothing but water under our feet. The question is: will we, like Peter, panic?
When Peter focused on what he was lacking—solid ground under his feet-- his faith weakened and he began to sink beneath the waves. When Jesus lifted Peter up, he asked him “Your faith is small. Why did you doubt?” I don’t think he was chastising Peter, just asking the question — “What happened? You were doing so well and then you began to doubt and the worry overwhelmed your faith.”
Peter did trust Jesus—he trusted from his own experience of him. After all, this event came immediately after Jesus—right there in front of everybody--had just feed 5000 people with a mere five loaves of bread and two smoked fish--but still that panic induced by finding himself walking on water—doing something utterly outside of his own expectations of life-- completely wiped all that from Peter’s thinking--and, at least temporarily, took his mind off trusting and, as our reading puts it, worry overwhelmed his faith.
We try to trust God’s promises—trust them because of the teachings of the Church, the faith of those who taught us, and our own experience of God in our lives. We, like Peter, are called to be followers, called to be Church, called to trust — even in the face of uncertain ground. Can we--will we—continue to trust? Even when we don’t know what tomorrow will bring? Even when it feels like we are out there walking on water?
We are promised, over and over, that we will never be left to face the waves of fear and uncertainty alone. And we are promised this by one who has never failed to be with us. One who chose to live with us. One who came to speak truth to us. One whose own Spirit lives within us, guiding and encouraging us.
There is no reason to doubt this promise. No reason to let worry overwhelm our faith. The one who promises is faithful and trustworthy.
God is with us, even now, reaching out a hand to lift us when we fear. Keep your eyes on that outstretched hand. Reach out and take it. It’s there for you.
RSS Feed