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.

"Get hold of yourselves"

Today’s Scripture readings, Numbers  12: 1-13 and Mt. 14: 22-36, give us lots upon which to reflect.  In the first reading we read about Miriam and Aaron complaining about their brother Moses and expressing their jealousy, God confronting them and then punishing them for their sinfulness, and Aaron and Moses begging for God’s mercy toward Miriam, who was struck with leprosy for her part in the sinful behaviors.  

In the Gospel, we are presented with the disciple’s “losing it,” when they see Jesus walking on the turbulent waters, believing He is a ghost, while Peter challenges Jesus to bid him come to him, if it is really He. Peter starts out bravely, then as he encounters the strong winds, gets scared and begins to sink. Jesus reaches out his hand and saves him.  Jesus rebukes the disciples, saying to them: “Get hold of yourselves” and says to Peter, as he is sinking, “How little faith you have!...Why did you falter?”

You and I are each of the characters in today's readings:  at times, Miriam and Aaron complaining about and jealous of others; Moses and Aaron begging for mercy; the disciples losing their cool, becoming frantic, anxious, believing in “ghosts” when Jesus is actually present in the disguise they misnamed; Peter, boldly setting out at God’s invitation to take the risk and then losing faith when he encountered difficulties.

Lord, over and over again, I find myself complaining about something as were Aaron and Miriam. Over and over again I find myself in turbulent waters caused by the "storms" I encounter and you bid me to come to You, to believe in You walking those same waters with me, there to save me when I sink.  Over and over again You say to me, as You said to the disciples in the boat, “Get hold of yourself. It is I. Do not be afraid.” Strengthen me when my faith is weak. Calm me when I am losing it. Encourage me when I am faltering. Save me when I am sinking. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

This is my experience. What is yours? This is my prayer, what is yours?