We're Walking on Water Here!

XIX Sunday “A”

August 9, 2020

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.”

Jesus walks on water. No big deal. He is Jesus after all. He is the third person of the Trinity; he worked countless miracles so walking on water shouldn’t surprise us. But getting Peter to walk on water, now that’s something? The disciples are crossing the sea in the middle of the night, there is a storm and the boat is being tossed about. Have you ever been out in a boat in a storm? How about in the middle of the night, in the dark with no lights? Truly a terrifying experience. But Jesus is able to get Peter to leave the relative security of the boat. When Jesus tells Peter to come he gets over the side of the boat and he begins to do what isn’t humanly possible he starts to walk on the water towards Jesus.

Admittedly Peter does fail. But what a way to fail. When he realizes what he is doing, when he knows that he is walking on water he begins to sink. He begins to think too much. “I shouldn’t be doing this.” “This is impossible, I could drown, and I could sink.” And he does just that he begins to sink, and this for me is probably the best part of the story. He calls out to Jesus, “Lord, save me!” And what does Jesus do? He reaches out his hand and he takes Peter in his arms he saves him.

Walking on water, something impossible. Getting out of the boat in the middle of the night, something that makes no sense. You know I haven’t been at St. Mary’s even a year yet, and I have seen a lot of walking on water. This year is certainly one for the history books. 2020 is not a year that we will soon forget. The year began with your pastor leaving and all 5 of his associates. A new pastor arrived and now only two associates. A few months later the music director died, then Fr. Steve passed away. Just last month we lost on Deacon Bruce and in the middle of all this: COVID. The Church completely closed. Sacraments postponed, not even the opportunity to go to Church to pray. And what did the community of St. Mary’s do? They began to walk on water. There is a whole lot of walking on water going on here. Instead of being afraid and hiding in the back of the boat. Instead of cowering and hoping that the storm would pass us by, we have gotten out of the boat. We have picked up the mantle. I must thank the pastoral team at St. Mary’s; they really have shown leadership here, they have followed in the footsteps of Peter. Every time something happened they have pitched in and helped out. Not once did someone say, “That isn’t my job.” No one said, “That’s not in my job description.” No rather they have said, “How can I help.” They have walked on water.

And so many of you have also walked on water. You have done what others say is impossible. You have done what can’t be done. I don’t mind mentioning the food bank, for it certainly is an example of walking on water. Feeding the hungry in the midst of so much loss.

I know that life is difficult for many of you at home. Just the fact of being together more, a blessing, yes! But many times a challenge as well. Losing work or pay. Not knowing what we will face tomorrow. And at times we have failed. But again what a wonderful example we have in Peter. We Peter failed he called out, “Save me Lord.” We do the same. When we don’t think we can handle another day. When we find out a loved one is sick or has died. We’ve lost a job, or the kids are at home and they are trying your patience, we call out, “Save me Lord.” And Jesus reaches out his hand and takes us in his arms.

Yes, we are in rough waters and the scary thing is that we can’t yet see the show. We don’t know how this will end, or when it will end, but we don’t know that we will survive.

This year has been an incredible difficult year. This year is like 1945 when Pearl Harbor was bombed and the US entered WWII. This year is like the crash of 1929 that lead to great depression. This year is like the Spanish Flu Pandemic of 1919. We will remember this year. We will face more trials but we will be able to say, “But it isn’t as bad as it was in 2020.” We will tell our children and grandchildren how we made it when we didn’t think we could.

I don’t know when, but we are headed for calmer seas. Things will get better. We will find a cure or a vaccine. The economy will come back. But you know what? The community of St. Mary’s is still going to have walk on water. We are going to have to leave the security of the boat and begin to do the impossible once again. It is never easy to walk on water, but that is what a disciple of Jesus does.