Walking on Water
Homily for Sunday, August 9th, 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
What would you say today’s Gospel reading is about?
I think most people would say it’s about Jesus walking on water. Which is a fine answer, as far as it goes. It’s one of the big things, I think, that Jesus is known for even among people who don’t really know anything about Jesus. The jokes and casual pop-cultural references to Jesus always seem to center on the “Big Three” Miracles: the “turning water into wine,” feeding the multitudes, and walking on water.
But I think that misses the more remarkable thing in today’s Gospel reading. To me it’s not that Jesus walks on water, but that Peter walks on water.
In some sense, Jesus walking on water is really not that big a deal, right? He’s the Son of God. He heals the sick and drives out demons. Walking on water? Sure, why not.
But Peter – Peter’s just a guy. Guys like him don’t walk on water. And Peter would be the first to say so.
Which he does – right in the middle of doing what he knows he shouldn’t be able to do. He has a kind of Wile-E-Coyote moment of letting the laws of physics re-assert themselves. But for a brief moment, this ordinary and unremarkable man walks on water.
I think back a few years now to when I was in the midst of studying for the diaconate, working my way through courses in theology and church history and canon law and all the rest. There were times – more than a few times, in fact – when I started feeling like I didn’t know how I’d be able to get through it all.
But whenever I got to feeling overwhelmed by it all, I would take a moment to remember that I’m doing this not for myself (if I’m doing it right!) but for Christ. I would pray like Peter: “Lord, if this is you, let me come to you.”
It was by keeping my focus on Jesus, hearing him call me across the turbulent sea, that I was able to find my footing and keep moving forward. Eventually the winds die down and the seas go calm again. And in that calmness we can re-connect with the Lord.
Like Elijah in the first reading. He’s been going through some turbulent times of his own, what with King Ahab and Jezebel trying to kill him and forcing him to flee for his life. He takes refuge in the cave on Mount Horeb, sheltering himself from the wind and the earthquake and the fire, until he can find God in the silence that follows.
It’s important to find that silence in our own lives. In the midst of the noise and busyness and the turbulence of everyday life, be sure to take that time in prayer – away from devices and distractions and whatever else is cluttering our minds throughout the day. We need opportunities of silence where we can connect with God.
Because that’s what sustains us through the rest. When it all gets overwhelming and we feel like our boat is about to be swamped, we can look to Jesus, calmly coming toward us through it all, calling us to come to him.