Jesus Is In Our Boats

In today's Gospel, Matthew 14: 22-36, the disciples were asked to "get into a boat and precede [Jesus] to the other side of the sea, while [Jesus] dismissed the crowds."  A violent storm plummeted the boat  in the early morning hours and the disciples feared drowning. Jesus, aware of what was happening, approached the boat, walking toward it on the waters! Seeing Jesus, but not recognizing him, they cry out in fear: 
"It is a ghost...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 go t 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."

Peter is you, is me!  At times it feels as if our "boat" is being tossed about by violent storms, winds too strong for our weak faith and shallow trust!  Jesus notices and approaches us upon the stormy sea of our lives but we do not recognize Him.  Jesus is not deterred but continues to approach us. He says to us: "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid."  "Really," we say in our hearts.  "Could Jesus really be in the events of our lives: in the disasters of the covid-19 virus? in the terror of death? in the loss of our jobs? in the hurricanes and fires ravaging our country?"  Or, we ask: "Where is Jesus? Is He a ghost?" Or, we may complain: "I don't see God in any of this chaos. He's abandoned us. He lets evil thrive in our midst. Every day there is more violence, more lies, more corruption, more injustice. Every day more and more of our poor are left to suffer, are denied benefits needed to take care of their families, their loved ones, their children!"

Drowning by the huge waves of turmoil around us, we become frightened, as did Peter, and begin to sink. Like Peter, may we cry out: "Lord, save me. Save us, Lord."  As with Peter, Jesus immediately stretches out his hand and catches us. As with the disciples in the sinking boat who cry out "It is a ghost," Jesus at once says: "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.  I am in this boat with you!"