Proper 14 – A
Matt 14:22-33
August 9, 2020
St. Columba’s
I. Peter
A. In our Gospel reading today, we see Peter once again getting in over his head – literally.
1. Following the feeding of the multitude, Jesus dismisses the crowd and continues to search for a deserted place to be alone with God – which was his original intention before the crowd got there first.
2. Jesus sent the disciples on their way in the boat, while he went up the mountain by himself to pray.
3. Early in the morning the Disciples see Jesus walking across the water towards them and are terrified.
4. Jesus says, “Relax, guys, it’s just me.”
5. Jesus’ presence is real and he immediately reassures them, saying, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”
6. Far more than Jesus using perfect English, on a dark and stormy night; the phrase “it is I” is the Divine name that is used in OT writings and here is used by Matthew to further affirm the divinity of Jesus.
B. Peter responds to this saying. “If it’s really you, command me to come to you on the water.”
1. So Jesus commands him – and Peter gets out of the boat and starts walking on the water.
2. But soon his fears get the best of him and he begins to sink – and as he does, he cries out, “Lord, save me.”
3. And Jesus reaches out his hand, and pulls him up, and takes him back to the boat.
II. Faith or No Faith
A. After Jesus helps Peter into the boat, he questions him saying, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
1. So often this story has been used to say that if Peter had just had faith he wouldn’t have sunk – and that if WE truly had faith we could do wondrous things too.
2. But, the Biblical Scholar Eugene Boring, commenting on this passage; says the following:
3. “The message is not ‘If he had enough faith, he could have walked on water,’ just as the message to us is not ‘If we had enough faith, we could overcome all our problems in spectacular ways.’
4. “This interpretation is wrong in that it identifies faith with spectacular exceptions to the warp and woof of our ordinary days, days that are all subject to the laws of physics and biology.
5. “This is wrong,” he continues, “because when our fantasies of overcoming this web are shattered by the realities of accident, disease, aging, and circumstance, and we begin to sink, this view encourages us to feel guilt because of our “lack of faith.”
6. Boring says, “Faith is not being able to walk on water – only God can do that – but daring to believe, in the face of all the evidence, that God is with us in the boat, made real in the community of faith as it makes its way through the storm, battered by the waves.”
7. That’s a mouthful – so let me repeat that – REPEAT QUOTE
B. So what of our FEARS and DOUBTS?
1. Right now we are living in a time of great anxiety.
2. The Covid virus has changed the very way we live and go about our everyday life.
3. There is unrest over the uneven use of force by the police; our society is increasingly polarized and driven apart by our political leaders; and we are losing faith in our institutions: our government, the church, and things we have always leaned on to see us through.
4. We are living in the midst of a great storm.
-Who wouldn’t have doubts? Who wouldn’t be afraid?
– It’s only human.
5. And so we cry out with Peter, “Lord, save me.”
6. And Jesus comes, striding toward us across the battering waves of our fears and doubts, and reaches out his hand to calm our fears; and then encourages us to step out again in faith.
III. Supported by the Community of Faith
A. So how can WE step out in FAITH in spite of all the fears that can get in the way and paralyze our attempts?
1. Peter had faith – he must have to get out of the boat and start walking on the water – it’s just that his doubts got in the way.
– In this case, doubt means vacillation, not skepticism.
2. The practical voice inside his head said, “What do you think you are doing? You can’t walk on water – are you trying to get yourself killed?”
– And he began to sink.
3. And the same thing happens to us, each and every day.
4. We HAVE faith – we want to do great things for Jesus – and we step out in that faith – but then that practical voice inside OUR head says,
– “What do you think you are doing?”
– “You can’t do that – are you trying to get yourself killed?”
5. And we begin to sink – and soon our great work is lost and washed away.
B. Yes, these fears and doubts are real – but so too is the saving power of God.
1. When Peter’s fears over came him and he began to sink – Jesus didn’t leave him there – he came and helped him.
2. And when our fears overwhelm us and keep us from doing the things we want to do for Jesus – Jesus is right there, ready to bail us out too, and get us started again.
3. Just as he did for Peter, Jesus comes striding up to us and sticks out his hand and says, “It’s OK, I’m here,” and then dusts us off and sends us on our way again – to do the things he has given us to do.
4. Jesus’ rescuing of Peter illustrates that Jesus always reaches out to us in our times of need, and his presence brings a sense peace and assurance.
5. Even when we find that our faith sometimes fails us, we are not beyond the reach of God’s power and love.
6. And the way we experience that power and love – the way that Jesus comes to us – is in the form of a community of faith – in the support we give to one another.
7. Even though we are not able to be together in person right now – we can still be supported by our COMMUNITY – the community that is St. Columba’s.
8. Reach out to one another – call someone you miss seeing and set up a regular time for coffee and conversation – be a part of the Zoom Coffee Hour at 10:30, you don’t have to have a computer – use the number and call in.
9. In this critical time that we find ourselves in we must CREATE the COMMUNITY we miss – and continue to step out in FAITH – even when it seems so difficult to do so.
10. Remember: “Faith is not being able to walk on water – only God can do that – but daring to believe, in the face of all the evidence, that God is with us in the boat, made real in the community of faith as it makes its way through the storm, battered by the waves.”
C. However strong our fears are; however dark it may seem, Jesus comes to us across the waves with a reassuring hand.
1. It may be in the company of a caring friend, a loving family member, a call on the phone, a face in a zoom call, that we experience that sense of calm when all around chaos reigns.
2. And at the time we may never even recognize Jesus’ loving arms around us – it may take time and distance to look back on the event to see Jesus at work.
Conclusion
As we strive to answer Jesus’ call, he is always ready to guide us.
Even in our darkest times he is there with us.
That’s the point of the poem “Footprints in the Sand” that we sometimes hear at funerals or see in bookshops, but never really stop to think how real it is.
And so I leave you with these thoughts this morning:
Footprints in the Sand
One night a man had a dream. He dreamed He was walking along the beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes from His life. For each scene He noticed two sets of footprints in the sand. One belonging to Him and the other to the LORD.
When the last scene of His life flashed before Him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of His life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of His life.
This really bothered Him and He questioned the LORD about it. “LORD you said that once I decided to follow you, you’d walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.”
The LORD replied, “My precious, precious child, I Love you and I would never leave you! During your times of trial and suffering when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”
Let Us Pray
Almighty God, you give us new life, new hope, and new opportunities with each returning day; Help us to use these blessings to the best of our capacity in doing the work we have to do; devoting ourselves wholly to your service, and putting our selfish interests aside to seek the welfare of all your people; for the sake of him who came among us as one who serves, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.
(Carlozzi p. 74)