Gospel
Mt 14:22-36
Jesus made the disciples get into a boat
and precede him to the other side of the sea,
while he dismissed the crowds.
After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.
When it was evening he was there alone.
Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore,
was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it.
During the fourth watch of the night,
he came toward them, walking on the sea.
When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified.
"It is a ghost," they said, and they cried out in fear.
At once Jesus spoke to them, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid."
Peter said to him in reply,
"Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water."
He said, "Come."
Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.
But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened;
and, beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!"
Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him,
and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"
After they got into the boat, the wind died down.
Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying,
"Truly, you are the Son of God."
After making the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret.
When the men of that place recognized him,
they sent word to all the surrounding country.
People brought to him all those who were sick
and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak,
and as many as touched it were healed.
Facing Your Fears
In the Gospel passage, Peter and the other disciples were frightened by the strong winds and waves in the Sea of Galilee. Jesus, who had been alone on a mountain, came walking on the water towards them. They cried out, believing it was a ghost, but Jesus calmed them and called them to courage and trust.
From the perspective of our fallen human nature, fear often stems from a lack of faith in God and His protective care. However, from the full Truth, the disciples had no need to fear and had every reason to rejoice and be at peace. Jesus, the Great I AM, was coming to protect and care for them, leading them safely to shore. The last word in the passage is a command that Jesus speaks to all of us when we fall into fear and worry. He says, "Come," which is a good word to prayfully meditate upon during every struggle and fear we endure. Reflect on this passage and see the waves, wind, and darkness as symbols of whatever troubles you the most. Close your eyes and see Jesus, the Great I AM, coming to you. Gaze at Him and hear Him tell you to trust Him. Hear Him say, "Come." Peter initially trusted and began walking on water when he came to Jesus, but soon allowed his fear to set in and took his eyes off him. Turn your eyes to Jesus, keep them firmly fixed on Him, ignore temptations in life that lead to fear, and trust in God. In conclusion, the Gospel passage serves as a reminder that we are all worthy of all our trust and trust in God. As we face challenges and fears, we should turn to Jesus, trust in Him, and trust in Him.
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