Jesus Walks on the Sea

Today is the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A) and at Mass the readings and homily were about Jesus walking on the sea (Matthew 14:22-33). The theme today was trusting in Jesus with all our hearts, even when doing so may seem to put our own safety at risk.

Look at the Apostles. They were on a boat in the middle of rough waters, with the waves beating against it. The situation was already stressful, perhaps even frightening, despite some of them having been fishermen. But then things get even worse…

But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.

Matthew 14:26 (RSV-2CE)

Imagine being there. They had been struggling against the wind through the night, and then they saw someone walking towards them on the water. How terrifying that sight must have been. Yet Jesus tells them not to be afraid. Peter then says that, if it really is Jesus, He should command him to come to Him on the water.

And what does Jesus say?

“Come.”

Something He said to Peter then, and in different ways continues to say to us.

And Peter actually goes.

He steps out of the boat and walks on the water towards Jesus. But then he notices the strong wind around him, becomes afraid, and begins to sink. He cries out, “Lord, save me!” and Jesus immediately reaches out His hand and catches him.

“Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Matthew 14:30-31 (RSV-2CE)

But what stuck with me — other than Peter actually walking on the water, just as Jesus did — were Jesus’ words and what happened immediately afterwards. As I was listening to the passage, I couldn’t help but think of 2 Corinthians 5:7.

Peter stepped out because he trusted Jesus. For a moment, the impossible did not matter because Christ had called him. But then his attention shifted to the wind and the danger surrounding him, and fear took over.

Perhaps that is something I need to remember in my own life. Faith does not mean that the storm disappears. Peter stepped out while the wind was still blowing. It means trusting the One who said “Come,” even while the storm is still around me.

And even when Peter’s faith faltered, that wasn’t the end of the story. He cried, “Lord, save me!”, and Jesus immediately reached out His hand.

There is also something deeper here than Peter’s faith. Scripture describes God as the One who rules over the waters (Job 9:8, Psalms 89:9), and here Jesus walks upon them. By the end of the episode,

And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Matthew 14:33 (RSV-2CE)

The question isn’t simply whether I have enough faith to step out of the boat. It is who I am placing that faith in.