Father Christopher Zugger

The Old Testament is filled w/ images of God’s power over the waters – to the Israelites the Mediterranean Sea was a dangerous area, and they tended to sail along the coasts, not the open sea. The Sea of Galilee is still notorious for sudden violent storms that can catch even experienced sailors unaware, and that’s apparently what happened that night. Jesus had just performed one of two miraculous feedings using fish and loaves, after which he went up to pray alone. The apostles sailed across, planning to reunite at Gennesaret. Instead, of course, they encounter the Lord, walking on the water, a power that was attributed of course only to God, the creator of all things.

 In Psalm 107 they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from

their distress: he made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.

Then they were glad because they had quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven.  In Job 9 – God who alone stretched out the heavens and trampled the waves of the Sea.

Jesus is not walking on rocks, or the shoreline, but across the waves; He is trampling atop the waves, doing what only God can do. Naturally the guys are terrified – it is around 3 in the morning, and here is a figure coming towards them in the midst of lightning and wind.

Note that it is Peter who speaks up, it is Peter who is the brave one, it is Peter who is of course also quite impetuous in climbing out of the boat. Why does he do so? Peter had faults, like high emotions and acting impulsively, but he had great love and great trust in Christ. The Lord said, “Come,” and he came.

Of course, he was fine until he looked around, away from Jesus. And there’s the key to the whole incident for me – we here already believe that Jesus is God, so we don’t need to emphasize the apostles falling down and worshipping him.

But we all have moments where the storms of daily life stir up troubles, moments of sin, moments of fear. Those are often the moments when we take our eyes off the goal, which is Jesus Christ, or worse, we forget to even call out to God for help. Peter had the presence of mind to say, Lord, save me!

And what happens? Jesus simply puts out his hand, and with his hand, saves him from drowning and lifts him out of the crashing waves and pulls him up. Just his hand.

There are times when we need just a little bit of help, just a bit of God’s grace, to get back on track. There are times when we might feel like God has to put his arms around us and haul us away from the power of sin or fear. Either way, it is too easy to forget, in either spiritual or physical darkness, that God is indeed constantly present to every single one of us.

In this Eucharist today, we can ask our Lord Jesus, soon to be present in these gifts on the altar, to renew us in our confidence in his presence, to strengthen us against fear, to bring us the healing touch of His divine mercy.

Let us approach Holy Communion today with full belief in the living presence of Jesus, and in his great love for us as he touches us with His holy body and blood.

Christ is among us.