God Is an Imminent God, an Approachable God, a Caring God

In today's gospel, Matthew 14:22-33, Jesus asked the the disciples to precede him to the other side of the sea, while he stayed behind to dismiss the crowd of over 5000 people that had just been fed with a miraculous multiplication of five loaves and two fish.  Several miles out on the sea a treacherous storm hits the boat with waves powerful enough to sink it.  Struggling to stay upright, the disciples notice someone walking on the waters and coming toward the boat. They are terrified.  Could it get worse than it is, they must have wondered. Then, Jesus says to them: "Fear not, it is I". Peter immediately says to Jesus: "If it is you, Lord, bid me come to you on the waters".  And Jesus says: "Come." Peter bravely gets out of the boat and walks on the water toward Jesus. The winds are strong and Peter, overcome with fear, takes his eyes off Jesus. Focusing on his fear, Peter begins to sink and cries out: "Lord, save me". Jesus stretches forth his hand and pulls Peter up, saving him from drowning.

You and I are like Peter at times. It is so easy to focus on our fears, to take our eyes off of Jesus. We can then get tangled up in our problems and, as our frenzy increases, we sink further and further into the "churning waters."  Waters are certainly churning in our world today and the storms are predicted to intensify: the storms of the coronavirus, the political storms, the protests against wearing masks, the stormy debates about returning to person-to-person learning, opening more and more businesses, the  avoiding large crowds and on and on! Storms may be raging in our families, our communities, our churches around any one of these issues or others causing fear among us.

I believe that whatever is happening in our world is a means of learning. What lessons do I need to learn from the chaos around me and within me? What steps do I need to take to regain a sense of balance in my life, to deepen my faith, to strengthen my trust in an imminent God, a caring God, an approachable God, a God who draws near to me on the stormy seas of my life this day?

"Fear not," Jesus says to me. "It is I; come to me!"

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!"

Keep Your Eyes on the Lord

In today's Gospel, Matthew 14: 22-36, Jesus, while dismissing the crowd,  sends the disciples to the other side of the sea ahead of him.   Once the crowd is dismissed, Jesus goes up to the mountain to pray by Himself.  The disciples are a couple of miles out on the sea and are being tossed around by a strong storm.  "During the fourth watch of the night, [Jesus] came toward them, walking on the sea." They are scared out of their wits, thinking a ghost is approaching them on this stormy sea.  "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid." Peter yells back at the ghostly figure and says: "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." "Come," Jesus responds to Peter. And Peter steps out of the boat onto the rough waters. Realizing what the heck he is doing, Peter becomes fearful, takes his eyes off of Jesus and begins to sink.  "Lord, save me."  And immediately, Jesus stretches out His hand and pulls Peter up drowning.

"Lord, save me," is a prayer all of us, no doubt, say often!  We  may drowning, so to speak, in grief, in financial or  relationship problems, in episodes with our children that we could never dream of, in facing illnesses--mental or physical--that baffle us and fill us with fear!  "Lord, where are you?" we ask!   "Be not afraid," the Lord says to us. I am right here with you. Together we will face these storms flooding  your life. You are not alone. I never abandon you. No matter how rough things become, keep your focus on me. Be not like Peter and focus on turbulent "sea."  With your focus on me, you will make it, because I am the God of life, not of death. I am the God of hope, not despair.  I am the God of power, not despair.  When you are too tired, too weak, to walk, I will carry you. Trust Me.