The Gospel of Matthew 14:22-33
Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So, Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Let us Pray: Heavenly Father, we thank you for the world you have made. We confess that we grow fearful in the midst of the storms. We thank you for your continuing presence with us. Thank you for the people in our lives who support us in our storm-filled journey. Help us to be faithful disciples, in spite of our flaws. Guide and bless our time together. Help us to remember that you are always with us through the storms we face. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
This Gospel reveals the revelation of Jesus as Lord in the midst of fear, chaos, human frailty, and the invitation to trust Him even when the waters are rough. This Gospel is also about faith. So, what is faith? Webster defines faith as: “something that is believed especially with strong conviction, specially a system of religious beliefs”. Faith is the opposite of doubt. “Webster’s New World College Dictionary” defines faith as “unquestioning belief that does not require proof or evidence; unquestioning belief in God”.
When Jesus says, “Come,” Peter steps into the impossible. He walks toward Jesus. Once his attention is shifted he starts to sink. Peter does not sink because the wind is strong, the wind was strong the whole time. He sinks because he shifts his attention. Fear is not the opposite of faith; distraction is. The moment Peter’s gaze moves from Christ to the storm, his footing gives way. Faith begins not with improved conditions but with a clearer vision of Christ.
This passage reveals: Christ’s sovereignty over creation Christ’s presence in human fear Christ’s patience with imperfect disciples (and His patience with us) Christ’s identity as the divine Son In our daily lives, we too should step out of our comfort zones and take bold steps of faith. We are encouraged to embrace uncertainty with trust in God’s power. As Jesus reached out to Peter in his moment of doubt, today He is ready to lift us up when our faith wavers. Our faith in God should be as strong as the hardest tree not getting swept by strong winds. If life is difficult, trust Him and all you will see is a vast world ahead full of hope. In Him alone is our hope, our strength and our Faith. Faith is what will keep us going in life. Again, Jesus speaks the word: Come. So often the way out of depression, fear or anxiety is not a thought or a consideration, but a physical step. Take a risk, and find yourself strong enough to walk forward, keeping your eyes focused on the Lord not on yourself and your situation. Even though you may be in the middle of a storm.
Let us Pray: You come to us in the storms we never chose but cannot escape. Speak Your word into our fear: “Take courage, it is I.” Fix our eyes on You when the winds rise and our hearts falter. When we sink, You reach out Your hand quickly and lift us up. Teach us to trust Your timing, Your presence, and Your power. And lead us, through every storm, into deeper worship of You, the true Son of God. Amen.
Reflections by Bob 