Homily for 10 August 2014, the 9th Sunday after Pentecost--Walking on Water

Homily for 10 August 2014:  Walking on Water

9^th Sunday after Pentecost (1 Corinthians 3:9-17)                    (Matthew 14:22-34)

 

We usually read this Gospel story as proof of Jesus’ divine power.

But what if we look at it from the disciples’ point of view, especially Peter’s—and then see how it applies to us?

The disciples have been trying all night to get across the sea of Galilee.  It’s stormy, with high winds and waves, and they can’t get to the shore.  They’re tired, for sure, and probably scared.  Nothing they do seems to accomplish anything to reach their goal, to bring them to safety and security.

Then they see Jesus coming to them, walking on the water.  Of course they are terrified; they’re not sure who it is—doing what is impossible—but they are hopeful.  And He says to them, “Don’t be afraid.”

Peter, always the impulsive one, always ready to act before he thinks, challenges Jesus:  “If it really is you, command me to walk to you on the water.”

And Jesus simply tells him, “Come.”

And what happens?  PETER WALKS ON THE WATER . . .

Until he realizes what he’s doing, and notices the wind and the waves and the darkness.  Then he’s scared.  He begins to sink.  All he can do is beg Jesus, “Lord, save me!”

Jesus catches him and saves him—and scolds him:  “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

When Jesus and Peter are safe in the boat, everybody says, “Truly You are the Son of God.”  Why do they say this?  Is it because He rescued Peter or because He empowered Peter to something impossible?

More likely it was because He rescued Peter, but the second action is more important.

We look at what happened and see that the central point is that Jesus gave Peter the power, the ability to something “impossible,” something that ordinarily he would not be able to do.

When Peter—in faith—asks Jesus to demonstrate that He is truly Himself, and—in faith—obeys Jesus’ command to “Come!”, in faith Peter becomes able to do what no one can do:  walk on water.  But when his faith gets weak and he thinks about how he can’t do what he’s doing, he begins to sink.  At that point, he has only enough faith to call on Jesus to save him.

A lot of times, we are like Peter.  Something happens—a powerful liturgy, a deep prayer experience, someone we meet, even a really good sermon—that fires up our faith.  We make a new commitment to Christ and swear that we will do whatever He wants.  And we begin to walk on water:  we begin to live a truly Christian life—free, loving, brave; helping the poor, loving our enemies, becoming humble, not quarrelling or gossiping.

But then we notice the strong wind and the waves—the pressures of work and family and society; the sarcasm and ridicule, the criticism, the negativity, the pessimism, sometimes even from our friends—and we get scared.  We begin to wonder, “What if I can’t really do this?  What if God isn’t really there to help me?  What if I’m fooling myself?  What will people say if I fail?  What if I’m not smart enough or strong enough or good enough?”

That’s when we start sinking—when we begin to lose faith.

This is true not only of individuals, but also of groups—families, parishes, cities, even countries.

So each one of us, and our parish all together, must focus on Jesus Christ, the One who says, “Take courage; I’m here; don’t be afraid.”  We must build our faith by prayer and study.  We must encourage each other.  We must use our gifts.  We must love one another.

Even if we are tired and discouraged and it seems like our boat will not reach the security and safety of the land, we have to believe that the Lord is with us, and we have to get out and walk on the water—in faith—to Him.  He will not let us sink, because He is our loving and good God, and we give thanks and praise and glory to Him, and to His Eternal Father, and to His All-Holy, Good, and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.  Amen.