19 OTA.11; 1 Kgs 19:9-13; Rom 9:1-5; Matthew 14:22-33
Peter began to sink.
There is a joke concerning this text that has gone around for years about three ministers out fishing together in a small boat. One of them, suddenly realizing that he had left his tackle box in the cabin, stepped out of the boat, and walked on the water over to shore. Just then, the second one said he had forgotten his faithful fishing hat on the front seat of the car. He too stepped out of the boat & walked on the water over to shore. When they had both returned, the 3rd minister who had watched this remarkable demonstration with mouth open & eyes wide, reasoned to himself …
"My faith is as strong as theirs. I can do that too."
So he stepped out of the boat and promptly sank to the bottom. His two companions dragged him out, but once they got him in the boat, he was determined not to be shown up. He stepped out once more, and immediately sank again. As his friends pulled him out, he sputtered, "My faith is as strong as yours. Why can't I walk on the water?" The first two looked at each another & one finally said, …
"We'd better tell him where those rocks are before he drowns himself."Humor: Missing the Rocks (Source; eSermons.com/Leininger, Mayday!)
You see when you know where the rocks are you walk with confidence into the future. I visit Florida & its Hurricane Season. Folks keep a wary eye on the weather. It can change unexpectedly & rapidly. They know what to do in case of a storm. They know where to the “rocks” are to prepare & to ride out a storm. But, there are other storms too in our lives aren’t there?
Where is God when it hurts? This is a common and ageless question. Job asked it. One-third of the psalms lament the absence of God. In the midst of suffering, saints & sinners alike cry out in search of God.
In the early days of sailing, a boy was on his first training voyage. One day he was assigned to the crow’s nest. He had to climb the mast. Halfway up, he made the mistake of looking down. He became dizzy & was in serious danger of falling.
Just then, an old sailor called out to him, “Look up at the sky, boy! Look at the sky!” The boy followed the instructions & climbed to safety.
Peter made the same mistake the young boy did. He took his eyes off the goal. He looked down into the wind-whipped sea & began to sink – noplace to stand. When life gets stormy do we fix our eyes on the storm, or on Jesus? (Daily Homilies, M. Link, 18th Week)
We need to remember who Jesus really is.
Here & now at this very Liturgy, there are some among us whose suffering obscures their ability to see that God is indeed with them. We are called to support them. As we continue with today’s celebration, may our proclamation of the creed & our communion lend hope to others. One day we will be the ones who struggle, & others will come to support us.
Peter began to sink.
There is a joke concerning this text that has gone around for years about three ministers out fishing together in a small boat. One of them, suddenly realizing that he had left his tackle box in the cabin, stepped out of the boat, and walked on the water over to shore. Just then, the second one said he had forgotten his faithful fishing hat on the front seat of the car. He too stepped out of the boat & walked on the water over to shore. When they had both returned, the 3rd minister who had watched this remarkable demonstration with mouth open & eyes wide, reasoned to himself …
"My faith is as strong as theirs. I can do that too."
So he stepped out of the boat and promptly sank to the bottom. His two companions dragged him out, but once they got him in the boat, he was determined not to be shown up. He stepped out once more, and immediately sank again. As his friends pulled him out, he sputtered, "My faith is as strong as yours. Why can't I walk on the water?" The first two looked at each another & one finally said, …
"We'd better tell him where those rocks are before he drowns himself."Humor: Missing the Rocks (Source; eSermons.com/Leininger, Mayday!)
You see when you know where the rocks are you walk with confidence into the future. I visit Florida & its Hurricane Season. Folks keep a wary eye on the weather. It can change unexpectedly & rapidly. They know what to do in case of a storm. They know where to the “rocks” are to prepare & to ride out a storm. But, there are other storms too in our lives aren’t there?
Do you know where the rocks are?
The disciples are in a real storm: sudden, unexpected. Seasoned sailors can testify why the disciples displayed such fear. It was the 4th watch, the time just before dawn (3 a.m.) when, as one sailor put it, the funny stuff starts to happen. In the gospel …. here comes who … might be Jesus. Jesus knows their situation: “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid”
Peter yells above the wind: “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” Jesus replies, “Come.” Peter is, at first, willing to challenge the unknown on his own. He takes a chance - then he doubts, then he’s drowning, “Lord save me!” Immediately, Jesus effortlessly lifts a heavy, full grown, waterlogged Peter out of the water as if he were a little child,“O you of little faith why did you doubt?”
This incident occurs just after Jesus fed the 5,000 on a hillside. The disciples still don’t know what to make of Jesus. Do we? They weren’t alone in wondering about counting on God in difficult times, enter Elijah. Elijah is running for his life. Elijah is scared. Elijah is seeking God.
2 Mountains tumble, rocks split, a wind tears through, the earth quakes & a fire burns to test his faith. Yet, Elijah waits quietly. Elijah hears a tiny whispering sound, Elijah finds his God. Elijah has faith.Peter panics. Elijah believes. Which would we do?
Where is God when it hurts? This is a common and ageless question. Job asked it. One-third of the psalms lament the absence of God. In the midst of suffering, saints & sinners alike cry out in search of God.
We are no different.
Often in those moments of our greatest need, God seems nowhere to be found. As a people whose lives are centered around the Paschal Mystery, we believe that God is with us in our suffering – yet suffering itself can obscure our vision of God. In the midst of confusion & turmoil, how do we find God?
In the early days of sailing, a boy was on his first training voyage. One day he was assigned to the crow’s nest. He had to climb the mast. Halfway up, he made the mistake of looking down. He became dizzy & was in serious danger of falling.
Just then, an old sailor called out to him, “Look up at the sky, boy! Look at the sky!” The boy followed the instructions & climbed to safety.
Peter made the same mistake the young boy did. He took his eyes off the goal. He looked down into the wind-whipped sea & began to sink – noplace to stand. When life gets stormy do we fix our eyes on the storm, or on Jesus? (Daily Homilies, M. Link, 18th Week)
We need to remember who Jesus really is.
Jesus in the Living Covenant.
The Covenant binds God to us forever. This is the “ROCK” foundation we can stand on/count on during the storms.
We need to stay focused & take heart. Fear paralyzes, Faith is courageous. And, “Courage doesn’t mean you don’t get afraid. Courage means you don’t let fear stop you” (Bethany Hamilton). In Twelve Step programs around the world, ordinary people who may have lost faith & felt abandoned by God, like Peter, affirm their belief in a higher power (the solid ground). Here & now at this very Liturgy, there are some among us whose suffering obscures their ability to see that God is indeed with them. We are called to support them. As we continue with today’s celebration, may our proclamation of the creed & our communion lend hope to others. One day we will be the ones who struggle, & others will come to support us.
My friends, let us reach out & lend a hand….