REFLECTIONS ON TREADING WATER WITH JESUS

The reading from Matt. 14:23-33 really sinks in, pardon the pun. There are so many layers to this story. We all have heard this story many times, and I have reflected upon it in my prayer time over the years. But after I myself read the commentary by St. John Chrysostom, I will never see it again the same way. (See my previous articles this week, Patristic Commentary). In the beginning of the story about the storm on the lake, Jesus went to the mountain to pray ardently. You know, that part of the Gospel always struck me as almost out of place. What does that have to do with the story of the storm on the lake? But now that we know what lay ahead for Jesus, we know that He went away to pray to be strengthened. In his prayer time, He was empowered to walk on water. We too will face storms, and our prayer time strengthens us and gives us power and strength we did not have before. Reflect and write about this. Jesus directed them to go to the other side of the lake ahead of Him. He actually directed them to leave Him and go alone. Why? He may have known that there was going to be a storm, after all He is the Co-creator. So since Jesus knew it was going to storm, why did He send them out, or why didn't He prevent the storm all together? In fact, this is the second time that His disciples were in the midst of a terrifying storm that He could have stopped immediately. Does this sound like your life? Sure sounds like mine. Reflect and write what this means to you. I myself have often wondered why the storms of life have to happen in the first place, I mean of course I'm aware that we are strengthened by harnessing our strength and skills during the storm. Yet sometimes the storms themselves crush us and leave us devastated, shipwrecked as it were. Sometimes we lose our faith because of storms and shipwrecks that we walk away from. So why would Jesus allow this to happen to His beloved disciples? The answer is actually relatively simple but only if you know the whole story. Jesus the Divine allows the storms of life so that He can show his power, and so there can be a miracle when He rescues us. Reflect and write on this. Why did Jesus not call out right away to tell them He was coming? This is a lot like the previous question. Jesus knew their terror when His ghostly figure appeared to them on the lake. Why didn't He call out immediately and calm their fear? It seems as if He allowed them to sink more deeply into the terror of the waves before He revealed himself to them. Isn't this how it is in our real lives? It seems like when we are in the deepest troubles is the moment He reveals himself. Perhaps it really is a matter of human pride. He only reveals Himself to us when we know we absolutely cannot do this alone. As St. John Chrysostom said that Jesus did not reveal “Himself before they cried out. For the more intense their alarm, the more did they welcome His coming,” (Patristic Bible Commentary, Matt. 14:26a). Reflect and write on this. And so, in sheer terror, they called out to this ghost in fear. It was then when they cried out in total horror, that Jesus revealed Himself. When Jesus called, Peter jumped out of the boat, quick to reply obediently, but unprepared for what lay ahead. Just like the seed on the rocky ground, Peter's faith sprouted quickly and he leapt with joy into the water. He even walked on water for a moment. Does that sound familiar? With renewed faith and absolute fearlessness we face trials – but sometimes it only lasts a moment. Reflect on how we can be better prepared to jump in the water. Jesus had gone alone to pray, and this strengthened Him to withstand the storm and to walk on water. But Peter was not prepared, or “pre-prayered,” so soon he was in way over his head and sinking. Just like Peter, we can walk on water for a while, and then we are treading water, needing to be rescued. What was it that brought Peter down? Fear of the wind, says the Gospel, but what is the wind? All the whispering voices in us and around us that stir up our doubt. Reflect: What is the wind in your life? What is most likely to move you from walking on water to treading water helplessly? How long was Peter treading water before the Lord finally grabbed him by the arm and pulled him out? How long must we wait treading water, so quickly losing faith after a good start? Again, why must we wait for the rescue? First of all, flailing and treading water is our attempt to help ourselves. I cannot truly reach out my hand to Jesus if I am treading water vigorously. I have to stop swimming and reach out to the Lord, so that He can hold on to me and pull me up. It is an act of utter trust. And perhaps most importantly, how long will I tread water before calling out for help? Reflect and write on this. O ye of little faith, why do you doubt? Jesus was disappointed that in spite of how long he had been with them, and how greatly they loved Him that they would still be unable to believe that He could save them. It is all a matter of faith. It's easy to talk about faith when we're on steady land. It's even possible to have faith on dry land in the middle of a fierce storm when at least the land under you is not moving. Yet when wind, waves, and the boat are tossing about, this is a great test of faith. Greater yet when there's not even a boat to stand in. Reflect and write about when it is the hardest to believe. Then after Jesus calms the wind, the disciples proclaim that He is the Son of God. It was really only after Jesus stopped the wind and the storm ceased that they had time to think. The waves were still tossing and the boat was still rocking but the cause of the storm had stopped. The One Whom they trusted was now with them in the boat. The first thing they did afterward was praise Him. It was in the strength of that powerful storm that Jesus showed Himself to them as the son of God. Reflect and write about this. References: All of the quotations are from St. John Chrysostom, taken from Patristic Bible Commentary, “Commentary on Matthew…St. John Chrysostom,” https://sites.google.com/site/aquinasstudybible/home/matthew-commentary/st-john-chrysostom-on-matthew/chapter-14.