August 13, 2023

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)                  

With Peter in the Storm

Msgr. Thomas Gervasio

The dramatic event in today’s Gospel has the apostles in a boat that is being beaten down by the waves and tossed about by the waves. It had to be a ferocious storm that terrified the apostles—four of whom were experienced fishermen. The scene has become an image of the Church that throughout history has found herself in turbulent waters. It is also an image of our own lives that can be stormy!

Into this frightening scene, appears the Lord who comes toward the boat walking on the sea! The apostles struggled to make out this mysterious figure and thought it was a ghost. Now, they were sure to perish, and cried out in fear! But Jesus doesn’t allow the shouting to go on…he speaks: “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!” The voice was familiar. Can it be true? Can it be possible?

Peter had to be sure and calls out and we hear him offer the first of three prayers in this event: “Lord, if it is you, command that I come to you on the water.” The Gospels clearly reveal Peter to be impulsive by nature. He was ruled more by his heart than by his head. He had an enthusiastic love but insufficient faith! Jesus challenges him to come! The brash Peter gets out of the boat. We can only imagine the apostles thinking him irrational, trying to pull him back into the boat.

One would think that Our Lord would have calmed the storm but St. Matthew does not mention this. The storm rages on…Jesus says “Come!” He is challenging Peter, as he so often challenges us to trust in the midst of life’s storms. And Peter takes up the challenge and begins to walk on the water, but then becomes overwhelmed by the chaos that enveloped him. He took his eyes off of Jesus and began to sink. His initial trust was weakened by his doubt and fear.

What are the winds and waves that envelope us? What are those forces, anxieties, sins, struggles, temptations, and sorrows that weigh us down and lash out against us? They can be overwhelming and tempt us to take our eyes off of Jesus. Like Peter, we have faith but it can be weakened, it can be a faith too feeble to face the struggles of life.

In his peril, Peter utters his second prayer: “Lord, save me!” The Lord in his mercy hears him and stretches out his hand. The climax of this scene is this. Jesus is there when we feel we cannot go on or when we are at the point of perishing!

Our Lord saves Peter but not without admonishing him. “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” Jesus challenges Peter and us to have greater trust. Only when Jesus saves Peter does the storm cease. Only when Jesus is in the boat, does peace prevail. This brings Peter to offer his third prayer which is a profession of faith: “Truly, you are the Son of God!”

Remember me, O God, when the winds are strong and waters rise.
Remember me, when there is no light with which to see
      and when I have a hard time finding my bearings.
Help me to trust that you are with me, especially when my fear takes over
      and does not allow me to feel your presence.
Help me to remember the countless times you have blessed me.
Help me recall the miracles—great and small—that you have worked for me.
Give me strength to grasp your hand.
      Raise me up as you did St. Peter.
With you in the boat the storms will surely cease and bring me peace.