22 Then he made the disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone. 24 Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. 25 During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them, walking on the sea. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear. 27 At once [Jesus] spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” 28 Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw how [strong] the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 After they got into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God.” (Matt 14:22-33)
TRANQUILITY
The gospel reading of today begins and ends in tranquility. It was towards evening and after a busy day Jesus set some time for himself to be alone in order pray, an example for all of us, to communicate with God after all the activities of the day. Jesus was not there when the boat of the disciples was tossed about by rough waves, an ordeal that the men endure for the whole night. The coming of Jesus towards the break of dawn terrified them but they were quickly reassured when they knew that it was him. Peter then asked Jesus to command him to walk on water—and he indeed was able to walk on water! But the fear of the strong wind made him sink. Jesus gently chided him for his lack of faith. The presence of Jesus made everything tranquil.
The words of Jesus in today’s Gospel are powerful: “Take courage, it is I! Do not be afraid.” As in our daily lives where we find that the presence of our mother or father, or that of a friend, takes away our fears, the presence of the Lord quells the fear of the disciples. At the suggestion of Peter, Jesus responds “Come.” The Lord invites us to come to him, to share in little marvels that he does. But if we fail, we find him gently chiding us, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
The response of those who were in the boat was a worthy act of homage to the Lord with their words “Truly, you are the Son of God.” It is in peace that they proclaimed this profession of faith, in the same way that Elijah found God present in the gentle whispering sound, in the same way that Jesus found intimacy in the stillness of the evening.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
1. Where do I find God present in my daily life?
2. Do I look for moments of stillness and peace in which I can commune more intimately with God?
Lord, Peter asked You to tell him to come across the water so that he might reach You. Help me to overcome whatever separates me from You. Grant me the gift of faith.
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