Reflection: Jesus walking on the water...

After he had fed the people, Jesus made the disciples get into a boat and precede Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds.  After doing so, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray.  When it was evening, He was there alone.  Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it.  During the fourth watch of the night, He came toward them walking on the sea. When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified.  “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear.  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 got 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 Peter, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” After they got into the boat, the wind died down.  Those who were in the boat did Him homage, saying, “Truly, You are the Son of God.”  Matthew 14:22-33  Today's Gospel

Jesus went up on the mountain by Himself to pray.  Oh, how important it is for us to go to a place by ourselves to pray!  When we pray alone in silence, we can hear His voice.  By spending time listening during prayer, we come to know His voice.  We recognize Him.

A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the Lord but the Lord was not in the wind.  After the wind there was an earthquake but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was fire but the Lord was not in the fire.  After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound.  When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance of the cave.  1 Kings 19:11-13  Today's First Reading

The Lord was in the whispering sound.  We can only hear the whispering sound of His voice if we go alone to a place to pray.  When we pray in silence, He speaks and we can hear Him.

When the disciples were in the boat, being tossed around by the waves and wind, they were terrified, even though many of them were fishermen and spent most of their lives working on boats.  When Jesus was walking on the water toward them, they did not recognize Him.  When we are afraid, our fear can color or distort our vision and we can make decisions out of fear, instead of with prudence and wisdom.

Jesus spoke to Peter, "Come" and He speaks that word to us.  When we come to Him and we are still afraid, Jesus speaks these words to us, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid."  Peter did have enough courage to get out of the boat, but when he was being tossed by the wind and water, he became afraid and cried out, "Lord, save me."  When we are being tossed about by the trials and storms of our lives, Jesus knows we are afraid.  He is always with us and He calls on us to have courage and to step out of the boat and walk to Him.  Like Peter, if we take our eyes off the Lord and we fall, cry out, "Lord, save me."  Jesus will extend His hand and bring us to safety and give us His peace.

Recently, I was with my family on a raft ride in Storyland, New Hampshire.  The raft floated along gently and went through a series of twists and turns.  At unexpected times, we were sprayed with water.  As I have reflected on that experience and the words of the Gospel, I am reminded that we cannot control our emotions, such as fear, but we can keep our eyes always fixed on the Lord.  When we experience the unexpected spray of water, we can make a conscious decision of the will to be not afraid and remember the Lord's words, "Take courage, it is I; be not afraid."