The gospel from today calls us out on the water. I used to picture calm still water for some reason but today I read "the boat was being tossed by the waves and the wind was against it." I used to live on a sailboat and I have some experience with being at the mercy of the sea and the wind. When the ocean is cranky there is nothing mere humans can do to settle it and the best thing to do is hunker down until it's over. When the wind gets a bee in its bonnet the only thing to do is lean into it and plant yourself as firmly as possible. When both the sea and the wind are having a bad day, forget about and just go home. That's why Peter's leap of faith is so impressive to me. Not only did he want to be with Jesus but he was willing to be tossed about by the tumultuous waves to do it. Yes, once he took his eyes of Jesus and started to doubt, he little walk started to become a swim, but his initial leap out of that boat is what I need the courage for today. I would like to think that my spiritual life is in such a place that once I am out upon the water I will keep my eyes on Christ, however, the stepping out of the comfy boat is the part that tweaks my heart with fear. I pray for the courage of Peter to leap and the stability of my faith to keep my eyes on the one who loves me more. I know that I can always cry out "Lord, save me!" but more than anything, I want to be where He is and that means getting tossed by waves and wind sometimes.
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.”
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.
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.
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