Matthew 14:22-33
by Rev. Luke Dunden
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First Reading - 1 Kings 19:9a, 11-13a
Responsorial Psalm - 85:9, 10, 11-12, 13-14
Second Reading - Romans 9:1-5
Gospel - Matthew 14:22-33
Matthew wrote to show that Christ
was the
Messiah and fulfilled the Jewish prophecies.
After
he had fed the people, Jesus made the disciples get into a boat and precede him
to the other side, 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 Peter, 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.”
Summertime.
Perfect time for trips to fairs. . . and my family many years ago was making
such a trip, the New York State fair. My Dad and I were perusing by various
exhibits that usually cost a couple tokens… the exhibit billboards certainly
caught my eight year-olds’ attention!!! Come see the amazing man-size snake,
the headless woman (no oxygen required!), the two-headed bear…I was all set to
visit these awesome displays, but my Dad caught me every time and eventually
gave me a one-on-one on something called “good use of my money.” So I put my
money to good use at the end…by purchasing some magic tricks at the souvenir
stand…if I couldn’t visit the dazzling shows, I would learn them myself and show
them to others…interlink two separate rings into one chain (usually I lost one
of them before the trick began), and the amazing card tricks…pay attention to
the card on top! Usually because I would accidentally let a couple fall under
the table…thus causing a less-than-enthusiastic applause by my audience.
But
the idea was there…Pay attention to that card on top, or you’ll miss the trick!
Ignore the cards falling under the table…ignore the wind, earthquake and fire,
Listen for the tiny whispering sound, or you’ll miss the Lord who is passing
by…Greater steaks at play here, Peter, ignore the wind and waves, pay attention
to the Lord who calls you…Pay attention to the Lord who speaks…the Lord who is
the Living Word of God…changes are coming to the Mass, words are changing, words
which will be more faithful to the original Scripture…Why bother being faithful
to Scripture? Stay tuned, pay attention to these words…for this is no magic
trick…
First,
Peter, sees the ghost who says He’s Jesus…that’s a relief! But, just to be
sure, he calls out – “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the
water.” “Come,” he says…our Lord does indeed respond to Peter’s request.
However!
Pay attention to the words – “Lord, if it is you…” similar words have been
spoken before… and not by the friendliest of persons…in the middle of the desert
– “If it is you…if you are the Son of God…command these stones to become loaves
of bread.” And from the pinnacle of the temple – “if you are the Son of God,
throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will give his angels charge of
you.’” Does Jesus answer these “requests,” rather these taunts and tests?
No…they are not requests born of faith and love…”if you are the Son of God, come
down from the cross.” Jesus does none of these things…he will not turn stones
into bread…but he does multiply loaves and fishes in abundance!!! He will not
throw Himself down from the pinnacle of the temple as a spectacle for the
angels…but He does come across the water at night…the very things He was
pressured to do, He does so with greater power and wonder and majesty, he does
so not to satisfy the tempter’s curiosity, but to conquer the fear and
strengthen the faith of his disciples. Come down from the cross? He doesn’t
come down from the cross, He reigns upon the cross and conquers death upon it.
Pay attention to every word, for EVERY WORD has meaning, EVERY WORD reveals our
infinite God, not one word goes to waste in Sacred Scripture!
He
indeed reveals Himself…but sometimes we still do not recognize Him… “Lord, IF it
is you…” – the Lord calls Peter, and He comes…and starts to sink! Pay
attention, Peter, for the devil didn’t know whom he was speaking to in the
desert, but in your faith you know who calls you onto the water…go to Him
and don’t be afraid! He calls you, He calls every son and Daughter of His
Father, to a life of holiness, to a life of greatness, to a life that shall
tread through the Lion’s Den, across the crashing waves, across the burning
flames, but you shall not be harmed…just pay attention to Me, Keep your eyes
focused on ME, says the Lord! As soon as Peter took His eyes off Jesus, He
began to sink…perhaps he has short-term memory loss, for what did the Lord just
tell him?
“Take
courage…It is I…Be not afraid!”
Take
courage – also translated, Be of good
cheer! Don’t just hold on with your eyes-shut, that’s for roller-coasters, this
is the Lord we’re meeting!! Have child-like confidence, the Lord is here, He
has multiplied the loaves and fishes, and now He comes to you upon the water.
It
is I – also translated again, “I AM!”
The Sacred Name of Yahweh, given to Moses – I once came to you in a burning bush
that is never consumed, and now I come to you across the water…
Be
not afraid! – Notice Christ does not say
“Try not to be afraid!” – Peter asks Jesus to command him – Jesus has already
commanded HIM! FEAR IS NOT AN OPTION, Christ wants us to walk across water, at
every part of our life’s journey, and fear CANNOT be an ingredient in that!
Blessed Pope John Paul II began his pontificate as such, “Be not afraid.” Our
life is not founded on fear, but on love…Christ is with us…
Two
thousand years later, we respond: Lord, we KNOW it is you, help us to pay
attention to your every Word, may we let go of fear and come to you across the
turbulent waters of our own lives…and He responds: Come, my son, my daughter,
never doubt, but believe! I call you to receive me now at this Mass…when so
many things may distract you, take courage, simply keep your eyes and
heart fixed on me in this Holy Eucharist, and say, “AMEN! The waves
disappear, we are not afraid, for this is no magic trick…YOU, LORD, ARE THE SON
of GOD.”
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