Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 14, August 13,2023: Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28; Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b; Romans 10:5-15; Matthew 14:22-33
Today’s gospel is the account of Jesus walking on water. Jesus has sent the crowd away, and told his disciples to take the boat to the other side. He goes up alone on the mountain to pray. The boat makes slow progress, because “the wind was against them”. Early in the morning, Jesus starts walking across the sea towards the boat. The disciples, not surprisingly, were initially terrified, but then Jesus spoke to them. Peter asks to be commanded to come to him, and begins also to walk on water. Then he noticed the strong wind, panicked, and started to sink. Jesus reaches out his hand to save Peter, asking, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” And the wind dies down.
As has probably been clear to my readers, I have a soft spot for Peter. He is so human, and he makes so many mistakes. His actions in today’s reading is no exception. First, he wants proof it’s Jesus walking on water: “If it is you, command me to come to you on the water”. When Jesus does, Peter sets off. He makes one mistake: he looks away from his path towards Jesus, and notices the wind which has made the journey so hard. And he starts to sink. He calls to Jesus for help, and Jesus helps him.
I am afraid of heights, but occasionally have found myself hiking at high elevations. And often even on what is not really a mountain, there is sometimes part of a trail where you are on a ledge, or something that reminds me that if I fell, it would be a long way down. I have learned my limits: if there’s a narrow ledge, I stay as far in as I can. I have also learned not to look: if I keep my eyes focused on the path, I’m all right. The friends I hike with are patient, but also remind me to keep my focus.
It is a gift to know where to look, to have a path to follow. As I was thinking about this, I began to reflect on how many young people today suffer from anxiety: not just worry, but paralyzing fear. There are many things for young people to be anxious about: individual issues (financial stability, jobs) and global ones (racism, poverty, war, environmental crisis). In all this, it is sometimes hard to see the path, or know which one to pursue. Anxiety is a rational response.
Peter’s answer when caught in a storm is to call out to Jesus. But when we call out to Jesus, generally the help we need is offered by people around us. Calling on Jesus signals our need for spiritual support; but even in spiritual crisis, many of our needs are very practical. And, because we are in communities, we may call out for help, or we may reach out a hand when we hear a call. We may be able to show the way.
We all face storms in our lives. While it may not often require walking on water, the world can be extremely complicated. Sometimes we will call out. We will also hear others who have called out. We need to listen, and respond when we hear their calls.