Gospel: Matthew 14, 22- 33
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.”
Homily
As I read the gospel passage given to us for our meditation this weekend, I could not help but remember the passage from Martin Luther King’s book, Stride towards Freedom. It is a bit long but I quote it for you. “One night toward the end of January, I settled into bed late, after a strenuous day. Coretta had already fallen asleep and just as I was about to doze off the telephone rang. An angry voice said, ‘Listen, nigger, we’ve taken all we want from you, before next week you’ll be sorry you ever came to Montgomery.’ I hung up, but I couldn’t sleep. It seemed that all of my fears had come down on me at once. I had reached the saturation point. I got out of bed and began to walk the floor. Finally I went to the kitchen and heated a pot of coffee. I was ready to give up. With my cup of coffee sitting untouched before me I tried to think of a way to move out of the picture without appearing a coward. In this state of exhaustion, when my courage had all but gone, I decided to take my problem to God. With my head in my hands, I bowed over the kitchen table and prayed aloud. The words I spoke to God that midnight are still vivid in my memory: ‘I am here taking a stand for what I believe is right. But now I am afraid. The people are looking to me for leadership, and if I stand before them without strength and courage, they too will falter. I am at the end of my powers. I have nothing left. I’ve come to the point where I can’t face it alone.’ At that moment I experienced the presence of the Divine as I had never experienced Him before.”
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The gospel passage describes Peter taking a brave step, counting perhaps on his own abilities. He gets out of the boat and begins to walk on the water. He soon realizes however that he is on water and that the normal thing to happen was that he would sink. He realizes that his own abilities are not sufficient to sustain him on the water. He is correct. He begins to sink. In that moment he cries out to God and God brings him through. It is the same thing which happens to Martin Luther King. He gets involved in the struggle for justice but the phone call brings him down to reality. There are very powerful forces ranged against him. He feels his inadequacy and calls out to God. God, as happened with Peter, hears his cry and brings him through.
The same happens with us very often. We begin works without thinking of the consequences and when we do realize the consequences, we become aware of our own inadequacies and we fear that we will be total failures. The Gospel reading tells us that we are total failures only if we neglect to call on the Lord. The history of the Church and the lives of the saints however tell us that if we place our trust in God and the work is for the Kingdom, we will generally not fail.
Francis Libermann, a penniless epileptic Jew, founded the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, later to be joined to the Holy Ghost Fathers, for the conversion of Africa. Mother Teresa, founded the Missionaries of Charity without a cent to her name. Like these two there are countless examples which all tell us that God supplies for our inadequacies if we place our trust in him.
Prayer
Lord, You call us to go beyond our limitations trusting your saving presence with us. Often however we suddenly become aware of the risk we have taken and feel afraid. In those circumstances stretch out your hand Lord and hold us so that our faith will be strengthened. We ask this through the intercession of Mary, our Mother and Jesus, your Son. Amen
