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Gospel: Matthew 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.
The Gospel of the Lord.
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Peter is understandably afraid. Until now, he’s only walked on land. Never would he have imagined walking on water, which could swallow him whole.
Still, the Lord dares Peter to step out of his comfort zone; to trust that Peter can do something new – something radical – with the Lord’s blessing.
We don’t know how far Peter walked, whether it was one foot or a thousand before the wind screamed loud enough and the waves reached high enough that he lost his newfound freedom and began to sink.
But while he trusted Jesus, Peter was as light as a feather. When he reached his limit and fear filled his heart, he sank like lead.
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I wonder if any of the other disciples would’ve been inspired to follow Peter’s example, stepping out of the boat, had he stayed out on the water.
Would they have surprised Jesus by their courage? Or could each of the disciples have walked on water with enough trust?
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We’ve all stood on the edge of that proverbial boat before, knowing that Jesus is calling us to take a leap of faith.
Whether it’s an addict being invited to stand on the waters of sobriety.
A newly married couple being inspired to bring life into the world.
Or an otherwise ordinary day when, suddenly, we have an impulse to do something kind, beautiful, even BIG for God.
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Walking on land is boring in that sense. We all do it.
But those who put their trust in Christ can do so much more, for our God is the One, “whom even the winds and the sea obey.”
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Image credits: (1) Christ Walking on Water, Julius Sergius von Klever (2) Christ Walking on the Sea, Amédeé Verint (3) iStock