Peter Walks on Water
Aug
10
Written by:
Sunday, August 10, 2008
19th Sunday Ordinary Time
August 10, 2008
Jesus dismissed the crowds, sent the disciples away in a boat and headed for the hills for some solitude and prayer with God (Matthew 14:22-33). Meanwhile, the poor disciples were battling a terrible storm on the Sea of Galilee. No doubt, Jesus was aware of the struggles of his followers. The disciples must have wondered about it too ... after all, hadn't he sent them out in the midst of the storm? And wasn't Jesus praying up in the hills, where he could actually see the struggle taking place?
When Jesus finally does come to the rescue, it is at the 4th watch of the night: right before dawn. In other words, Jesus prayed all night and left the disciples to struggle until he was completely finished praying. Jesus thus teaches us the importance of solitude and prayer in our own lives, too. All our major decisions should be preceded by at least a moment of prayer.
Like the disciples' night in the choppy seas, life can be full of storms and struggles, and what is more, it can even seem as if this is just the way God wants it. Jesus allows the disciples, both then and now, to do battle on Earth with trials of all kinds, because they are somehow necessary for our growth, our faith, our trust and our future. Jesus may not show up until the last minute, but he is always with us, always helping us.
When Jesus does finally arrive, Peter and the others are terrified by this ghostly apparition coming on the waters. If it is really you, Jesus, let me come to you on the waters. Peter gets out of the boat, thus becoming the only man besides Jesus to ever accomplish this feat! Yet, Peter soon begins to sink. Amazingly, Peter is not afraid of the waves, but of the wind. Sometimes, it's the little things that get us in trouble.
Why, then, did Peter sink? Because he took his eyes off of Jesus. Peter could do the impossible, even walk on water, as long as he kept his eyes, his focus, on Jesus. Here is another lesson from today's mass: in our pilgrimage of life, we always strive to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. We get in trouble when our spiritual eyes are focused on only ourselves, or on merely satisfying our material desires, or on our fears. Daily prayer helps us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. This way, even when the storms of life are upon us and our Lord delays in the rescue, we will not sink, because we have not lost sight of our savior, walking across the stormy waters of our hearts, even now.
Father Gary