Tossed by…
Scripture
1 Kings 19:9,
1 Kings 19:11-13,
Romans 9:1-5,
Matthew 14:22-33.
Reflection
Dear sisters and brothers,
Today, let us start our homily with a funny story.
A visitor to the Holy Land wanted to take a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee, the sea on which Jesus walked.
She asked the boatman about the fare for it.
The boatman said that it was fifty dollars.
‘Fifty dollars!’ Exclaimed the visitor to the Holy Land and said aguishly, ‘No wonder Jesus walked!’
Today, we need to properly understand the gospel story.
The story is all about Jesus walking on the sea.
What makes it unique?
It is special because it has a lot to teach us about who Jesus is.
The miracle story of Jesus walking on the sea comes immediately after the multiplication of loaves.
It makes us understand that Jesus is Lord and has authority over all forces, natural and supernatural.
Because the Jews believed that the sea was the domain of supernatural demonic forces.
A rough and stormy sea was regarded as the work of these hostile spirits.
By walking on the raging waves and calming the stormy sea, Jesus is showing himself to have power and total control over these hostile spiritual forces.
How is it relevant to our lives?
We know that there are many Christians who have surrendered their lives to the Lord but who still live in constant fear of evil spirits, sorcery, witchcraft, potions, and curses.
It is a reality in many parts of the Christian world.
After being baptized as Christians and believing in Jesus as the risen Lord who overcame the fictional, wicked world, many Christians continue to live by the old customs.
The gospel reading of today brings us the good news that these powers of darkness stand no chance at all when Jesus is present and active in our lives.
But the question is: do we have faith in the presence of Jesus in our lives?
We need to keep in mind that Jesus has promised us: ‘I am with you till the end of the age’ (Matthew 28:20).
It is not a statement.
It is our hope.
It is our faith.
The image of the boat on the sea is one of the earliest Christian symbols for the church’s journey through the world.
Just as the boat is tossed about by the waves, so is the church pounded from all sides by worldly and spiritual forces hostile to the kingdom of God.
During crises, Jesus comes to restore peace and harmony in his church.
But he comes in a form and manner in which he is easily mistaken for the enemy.
He comes in a way that makes many well-meaning Christians cry out in fear, ‘It is a ghost!’ (Matthew 14:26) as we try to keep him out.
But if we listen carefully, we shall hear through the storm his soft, gentle voice whispering in the wind, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid’ (Matthew 14:27).
Even if the divine presence is accompanied by a variety of phenomena, including wind, storms, earthquakes, and fire, these phenomena do not make up the presence itself, which is enigmatic and ultimately unfathomable, much like the ‘silent, soft and gentle sound’ (1 Kings 19:11-12).
If we believe in his word and take him on board that is our life, family, community, and work place, the storm immediately subsides and the crisis is resolved.
It is our hope.
It is our faith.
How can we be sure that it is Christ and not a hostile ghost?
We cannot.
We must act in hope.
We must act in faith.
We must stand on the promise of Christ.
Jesus himself will come to us riding on the very seas that threaten to swallow us up if we are busy carrying out the task he has given us, just as the disciples were busy rowing their boat to the other side of the shore as Jesus had told them.
We must keep an eye out for Jesus, who is coming to provide relief and rescue, as the church in the modern world navigates the choppy waters of our time like Peter’s boat did.
Even when Jesus appears as a ghost, which is unsightly and completely unexpected, we must make an effort to acknowledge him as Lord and Saviour, who never abandons even for a second from our lives.
The account of Jesus walking on the seas, particularly the role played by Peter, serves as a cautionary tale for disciples who may be tempted to loose focus on Jesus and pay more attention to the potentially dangerous situations surrounding them.
“Lord, if it is you,” Peter enquired and asked, “command me to come to you on the water” (Matthew 14:28).
He receives the command to ‘Come’ from Jesus (Matthew 14:29).
It appears as though Jesus is commanding the impossibility.
But Jesus provides us the ability to follow through on all he tells us to accomplish.
It is the experience of everyone who were called by Jesus.
And the ordinary man, Peter, begins to walk on the sea, coming to Jesus.
But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened and began to sink.
Peter managed to walk on the water while keeping his gaze fixed on Jesus, his message, and power, but when he realized the danger he was in and turned his attention to the waves, he got fearful and started to sink.
Sometimes, we too are like Peter losing our focus from Jesus and his promise and we voluntarily enter into the troubled water.
That is the reason, Saint Paul tells us, “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).
May the Lord strengthen our meager faith so that we might remain steadfast in our belief, in Jesus’ power and presence during all of life’s storms.
It is the method to live an authentic Christian life in a chaotic environment by overcoming our own shortcomings.
May the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all. Amen…
