Walking on the Water

The lake is rough. Though several of the apostles spent most of their life in a boat, they’re still worried.  But when they see a phantom walking towards them on the whitecaps, they get really scared.  Then the figure speaks and they recognize a familiar voice–it is the Lord!

Remember the old saying “fools rush in where angels fear to tred?”  Well here goes Peter: “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you across the water.”  The Lord takes him up on it.  “Come!” he says.  So Peter gives it a try.  The first few steps go great and he’s pumped.  But funny thing–when the Lord told him to come, he neglected to calm the wind and the waves.  And as Peter, far from the security of the boat and the company of his buddies, finds himself buffeted by strong gusts and swirling waves, fear gets the best of him.  He begins to sink.  Remembering that Jesus is not too far off, he has the sense to cry out “Lord save me!”

The Lord fishes him out and then gently rebukes him.  Jesus doesn’t say that Peter has no faith.  After all, he had more faith than the other eleven—at least he stepped out of the boat.  But Jesus’ statement is telling: “how little faith you have!  Why did you falter?”

If we are honest, most of us notice butterflies flying inside our stomachs amidst such circumstances.

Does trust mean immunity from feelings of fear and discouragement?  No.  Jesus himself experienced anguish and dread in the Garden of Gethsemani.  But notice that he was not deterred by it.  He did not hesitate or falter as Peter did and as we usually do.

The most frequently repeated phrase in the gospels is “Do not be afraid!”  The Lord is not speaking to our emotions here, since you can’t command emotions.  He is speaking to our will.  We must make a conscious decision not to allow fear to paralyze us.  Peter sank because he stopped walking.  Faith means to keep walking even when your knees are knocking.

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This was originally published in Our Sunday Visitor as a reflection upon the readings for the 19^7h Sunday in Ordinary Time, liturgical cycle A (1 Kings 19:9, 11-13), Psalm 85, Romans 9:1-5; Matthew 14:22-33).  It is reproduced here with the permission of the author.

This article is featured in the Christian Lifestyle and the Prayer and Spirituality  and Catholic Bible Scripture Study sections of the Crossroads Initiative Library.