***
Gospel: 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.”
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.
The Gospel of the Lord.
***
***
Some of the most common fears people have are a fear of public speaking, heights, failure, snakes, and confined spaces. Maybe we have a combination of these.
Why are we so afraid?
Some psychologists say, we’re afraid of losing control.
***
Consider Saint Peter in today’s Gospel.
Although he’s stuck in a storm in the middle of the night, he’s relatively safe, holed up on a boat. Suddenly, he sees Jesus walking on the water towards him, so he cries out:
“Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”
And so, Jesus says, “Come.”
Understandably, Peter is terrified. He’s spent his whole life walking on land. I’m sure he never dreamt of doing anything more. The land is comfortable; sturdy; familiar.
But the water can swallow him whole.
Still, the Lord invites him to take a risk – to move beyond his comfort zone – to walk on water.
Peter didn’t start sinking because he was incapable of doing what Jesus said. The Gospel tells us, “When he saw how strong the wind was, he became frightened.”
Peter was afraid. That’s why he began to sink.
***
I wonder how much further we might advance in life – and in our spiritual lives – if we were less afraid of failing; sinking; losing control.
While some forces may be stronger than us – much like the wind and water being stronger than Peter – Jesus assures us that we will not drown because he’s standing there with us. As the disciples say elsewhere, “Even the wind and the seas obey him.”
What would it look like for me to step outside of my comfort zone? To take a leap of faith?
***
May we follow Christ out onto the water today.
***
***
Image credits: (1) St.Catherineop.com (2) laymansbible.wordpress.com (3) Clear Bible, WordPress