For those of us who live here in the Lake Tahoe area, the following questions should be fingertip knowledge:
This will be a bit more difficult: How much do you know about the Sea of Galilee?
Last week some disciples of our parish were kind enough to invite me for a boat ride and lunch on the lake. Halfway across the lake, one parishioner said, “Oh no, I forgot the hot dogs. We will have to go back and get them.”
The boat slowed down and then I stood up and said, “Don’t worry, I’ll go back and get them.” So, I stepped out of the slowly moving boat and began to walk across Lake Tahoe.
Immediately I heard the husband say to his wife, “I win the bet; I win the bet. I told you, Father Bill can’t swim!”
Of course, the opposite is true: I can paddleboard, and I can swim, but I can’t walk on water.
The opening line of our gospel this week finds Jesus telling the disciples to get into the boat and go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee so He can have some alone time. The disciples obey and Jesus goes up to the mountain to pray.
Despite the intense pace of His lifestyle, Jesus always finds time to pray. There are many examples in the Bible of Jesus praying before meals, before important events, for those who persecuted Him, and for those of us who follow Him.
How good are we at finding time to pray despite our busy schedules? We can:
In today’s gospel, while Jesus was peacefully in prayer, a strong storm erupted on the lake, and waves slammed into the boat that was filled with the fishermen who Jesus was trying to form into His intentional disciples. The storm tossed the boat around like a toothpick.
Peter must have strained on the tiller to guide his heavy fishing boat while the fierce wind flattened his beard and dried out his eyes. These experienced fishermen, who made their living fishing on the Sea of Galilee, were, as Matthew describes, “terrified.”
There is a time when we all have been terrified, maybe a car crash, a climate-related disaster or a medical diagnosis.
Suddenly one of the disciples began to shout almost hysterically. “What’s that, what is it?” Looking through the darkness, they were frightened to see a figure moving toward their boat. So afraid were these big fishermen, they thought they were seeing a ghost.
Immediately Jesus said, “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid.”
Then Jesus, standing on the water, calmly invited Peter, “Come.” Jesus also invites us to come to him. It is our choice whether to accept the invitation, or not.
Peter, impetuous Peter, does as he is commanded. Not even worried about the storm, in faith he gets out of the boat and begins his short stint as a “water-walker.”
Why do you think Peter began to sink? Did his faith in Jesus begin to waver? Did he fail to totally trust that Jesus would protect him? Or, perhaps Peter thought he was walking on water under his own power, and because of this he began to sink.
While sinking, Peter prays, not peacefully like Christ in the mountains, but in a spirit of panic. Peter’s prayer is the prayer we should pray daily. Remember what it was? “Lord save me.”
Like always, Jesus stretches out His hand and brings Peter to safety.
The Lord constantly has His hands stretched out as far as they can go to reach us, to help us, to save us.
I don’t know what storms are in your life or what storms will come to you this week. But I know from experience, when storms rage around or against me, I have to listen carefully with my heart until I hear a gentle voice telling me, “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid.”
Don’t ever be afraid to cry out for help from Jesus when feeling overwhelmed.
Our first reading is another example of someone crying out for help. Elijah is hiding in the desert on a mountain in a cave and actually praying for his death. At this point in Elijah’s career and life, he believes he has nothing to live for. He had tried to keep the Israelite people faithful to the covenant but saw himself as a failure. Even the mean queen Jezebel was trying to kill him.
Elijah was asking for help to die. God answered his prayer but not the way Elijah wanted.
God answered in a tiny whisper. Our God is found in stillness, in those quiet moments of silence. Maybe that is why we are uncomfortable with silence. Maybe that is the reason the TV, iPad or computer are always on.
I wonder if you can listen to the Lord now and hear Jesus saying to you: “Take courage.” “Do not be afraid.” “Come to me.”
If you can’t listen to the gentle sound, go to the lake and be still.
Our God is a Master of Disguise.
God is found in stillness,
in quiet moments,
in the mountains, desert or lake.
God is found in nature,
like in breath-taking sunsets and sunrises,
but you must be still.
God is found in sorrow and joy,
but you must be still.
God is found in other people,
the newborn and the dying
but you must be still.
There comes a time when we must all step out of our boat of comfort and hear Jesus call us to come to Him. Trust totally in Jesus Christ, our personal Savior and Lord.
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