Jesus does not give us false promises that we will never struggle or succumb to the waves. But there is one eternal promise. We will never face those storms alone. Do not fear.
Art by David Mach
The Gospel reading today is a familiar one to many of us. Even if you’re new to church my guess is that you’ve heard about Jesus walking on the water and Peter trying to. But, oh, Peter. You have to love him. He’s so passionate and impetuous, and just throws himself out there without thinking things through half the time. My sister once told me when we became adults that she learned all the things not to do from me. I wonder if the other disciples in the boat with Peter thought the same thing of him.
But I think Jesus’ responses to Peter throughout the Gospels really demonstrate the love and grace with which Jesus responds to all of us who try hard, whose faith falters, and who quite often miss the mark. What I really heard this time as I read this well-known story again in the year 2023 was how fear seems to take hold of us and ultimately almost sink us in the storms we face. Even when we think we know what we are doing, like these fishermen who, for crying out loud, lived half their life in boats and were used to maneuvering storms at sea. It’s not the storm at first that frightens the sailors, it’s Jesus.
They‘ve probably seen a lot of strange things out on the water over the years, but they have not seen someone coming towards them in a storm ON the water. The Gospel of John recounts that the disciples recognized Jesus and they were still terrified.
Who walks with such authority and how did he look? The point of his appearance was unmistakable. He was exercising a prerogative that belongs to God alone. And that’s when they notice the wind, that’s when they start wondering if they’re in danger. I’m not sure if any of you are fisherpeople, not the hey, let’s go fishing today and have a picnic kind, but the kind that stays out on the sea overnight or for days, so we may not be able to truly visualize and feel the impact of an experience of an encounter like this. But in ancient times and in ancient sacred writings, the sea was a symbol of chaos– the chaos before the world was formed and the chaos that rips worlds apart. We are afraid of that kind of chaos!
The chaos we know of global warming, the terrifying cruelty of war, cancer, pandemics and razor wire at our borders and food insecurity and all the fearful things today that rock our boats. It is this sea that Jesus is walking on–the unhindered master of the chaos. But his appearance and the implications of him masterfully standing on the violence of the waves, frightens those fishermen. When we get wrapped up in the chaos, we too let fear take over and everything seems to be something to be afraid of–possibly even the Son of God.
But in that moment of panic, Jesus immediately responds with, “Take heart! It is I–I am.” These disciples know who I AM is. That announcement of God’s unknowable name was not lost on them. When Peter hears, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid,” he recognizes the pronouncement of Jesus’ divinity and mastery over the chaos, and in true Peter fashion, he responds “If it is you–if it’s really you, God, then you command me to walk on this water, too.” Because a command from God calls for obedience, and Peter somehow is catching on to the true meaning of Jesus’ words and what it means that he is standing on a sea rocked by the waves of chaos. Jesus, are you really here in this moment of danger, of fear?
It is interesting that Jesus’ does what Peter asks, but the command he gives is not, “Peter, step out and walk on this water!” It is “Come, come to me.” There’s such a strong message in this simple command. When the storms of life rage around us, we are not asked to master the storm or the elements or the circumstances–no, the command from Jesus is “Come.” That’s it. And Peter does.
Out of obedience and armed only with what little faith he has, Peter takes a risk, steps on the water and walks a little. Until he is distracted by the wind and, in that brief second he shifts his focus to the chaos and his perspective changes, his faith wavers. As soon as Jesus is no longer what he is responding to, the storm seems overwhelming, and he starts to succumb to it. Even then, Jesus is still there. Even then, Jesus’ response is to catch him.
With all of the blunders and missteps of Peter, even his little faith is still faith and Jesus nevers abandons him or rebukes him or teaches him a lesson. Even when Peter will soon deny publicly that he ever knew Jesus, Jesus will catch him. I do not see Jesus chastising Peter here at all, because Jesus sees the heart of this hot-headed man and with compassion responds, “You of little faith, why did you waver?” Peter–you understood what you were witnessing, you took the risk to come to me because you understood there was a greater force at work than the storm that was raging all around you. If you think Peter was a failure for having too little faith, remember he was chosen as the cornerstone of the church. If you think you are a failure for having little faith, do not underestimate what God sees in your faltering efforts.
It’s risky business responding to Jesus. Yet a hand is extended to each one of us when we trust even a little bit when we hear Jesus beckon to us, “Come,” and we dare to step out into the storm of life. During all of this encounter between Jesus and Peter, the storm is still raging. They get back in the boat and then the winds cease and everyone in that boat, not just Peter, worships Jesus- “Truly, truly you are Son of God.” The first time that faith and obedience in the Gospel of Matthew culminate in the action of worshipping Jesus as the divine Son of God.
I need to point out, though, that “Do not be afraid,” does not mean those misinterpretations we often hear that God will not give us more than we can handle. Nor does it mean there is nothing to fear. It does mean that the one who can master the chaos is there to catch you in the storm when you cry out, “Lord, save me!”, and remains with you until the waves calm. Don’t be afraid.
I’ll close with a prayer written by Thomas Merton that my mother sent me when I was in college. I have kept it in my Bible all this time because it spoke to me of the point of our Gospel today.
“My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore, will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
Jesus does not give us false promises that we will never struggle or succumb to the waves. But there is one eternal promise. We will never face those storms alone. Do not fear.
Proper 14, Year A, Matthew 14:22-33
Sunday, August 13, 2023
St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Huntsville, Texas
The Rev. Alyssa Stebbing ✠
Magdalena's Musings 