Facing storms and walking on the sea … or on air!

“When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. ‘It’s a ghost,’ they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them:
‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’ ” — Matthew 14: 26-27

Our weekend readings seem so appropriate and on message after our experiences of the last months. We too have faced many storms and difficulties and we too may have felt that we have been sinking. So, let us explore our readings together, to see how God’s Word can feed, guide and sustain us.
In the first reading (1 Kings 19:9a, 11-13), we encounter the prophet Elijah who, having faced many trials and storms, is exhausted and dispirited and so takes refuge in a cave. But God summons Elijah to meet him on Mount Horeb. God speaks to Elijah, not in the impressive storm, or fire, or earthquake, but in a gentle breeze. The gentle voice of God then strengthens Elijah to face the next set of challenges before him. The psalm (Psalm 85) sings of the peace and salvation that can come from God, perhaps especially when we face the storms of life. St. Paul in the second reading (Romans 9:1-5) also faces a storm of sorts: his frustration and disappointment that some, especially those who have received the promises of God throughout history, have not yet recognized and accepted Jesus Christ.

Our Gospel this weekend gives us the root of that saying which we sometimes use about a person thinking they “can walk on water!” Jesus has just fed the 5,000 and now he sends the disciples ahead of him as they cross the Sea of Galilee by boat. The Sea of Galilee is a large body of freshwater in the Holy Land. It is not anywhere near as large as one of the Great Lakes, but it is big enough. If you like facts and geography, it is about 13 miles by 8 miles in size and 140 feet deep. It is also some 700 feet below sea level and is surrounded by mountains. So, sudden and violent storms are not uncommon and the waves, winds and currents can be strong, as indeed we hear in the Gospel. One other fact: one of the main fish that is caught in the sea is a type of tilapia!

Jesus comes toward the boat, walking on the water. The first (and not surprising) reaction of the disciples is fear and terror: they think that they are seeing a ghost. Once they hear Jesus’ reassuring voice, then their reaction changes. Simon Peter, impetuous as ever, asks Jesus to command him to walk across the water toward him. So, Jesus invites him to “come.” We can imagine Simon Peter jumping out of the boat full of courage and excitement, but this soon changes as reality kicks in and he realizes what he has done. How can anyone walk on water and how can anyone survive in such rough water? (We can note that fishermen at the time of Jesus often could not swim.) So Peter begins to flounder and to sink and he cries out “Lord, save me.” This Jesus does as he stretches out his hand to Peter.

As with any encounter or dramatic incident, all that happened is not just on the level of raw experience: there are deeper and spiritual levels to reflect upon. Notice, for example, that once the disciples hear the voice of Jesus, then their fear and terror abates. This can be so true for us too as we face some fear, or anxiety, or even terror in our life. Please God, we have found this during these difficult months. To hear the voice of the Lord and to know that he is there can help us face whatever the storm is and not to be paralyzed by fear or anxiety; but rather to act and to move forward. The problem or crisis may still be there, but now we have a new confidence and trust, and we may even experience an inner tranquility and peace.

Like St. Peter, we may “get out of the boat” and jump into the storm, but then feel overwhelmed and that we are sinking. Again, the Lord can stretch out his hand and save us. This “saving” of course, is not just from problems or crises, wonderful as that is. Jesus is our savior and it is he who has rescued us from “going under” through our faults and failings. All he asks is that we do not doubt, but rather that we have faith in him.

The Gospel closes with another reaction of the disciples. After all that they have witnessed, and after the wind dies down, the disciples did Jesus homage and made a profession of faith: “Truly, you are the Son of God” (words, by the way, that will be said again at a very different scene by the Roman centurion during Jesus’ crucifixion). Let us do the same as the disciples did as we celebrate Mass, whether we are physically present in the church, or joined by a spiritual communion.