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10 Pentecost Proper 14 A August 13,2017
Genesis 37:1-4,12-28
Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b
Romans 10:5-15
Matthew 14:22-33
The Rev. David R. Wilt
“Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. and, after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray.”
A very interesting passage because it alludes to the image that Jesus has sent the disciples on a journey without him being with them. Not just a journey but a journey over water, where storms are susceptible to popping up quickly and violently.
I can remember taking a group of people for an afternoon boat ride on Deep Creek Lake Maryland. It was a sunny afternoon although we could see some clouds in the distance. We crossed under the Glendale Bridge and I had just shown them the summer home of Dr. Jonas Salk, w ho had developed the cure for polio. Suddenly, we were engulfed by darkness and then torrential rain and wind. I could not see the front of the boat. Through the grace of God and only the grace of God and the fact that I was very familiar with the lake did we eventually make it back to the dock.
Journeys over water are notoriously perilous and yet our story seems to say Jesus sent them on their way while he stayed behind to dismiss the crowds that had just been fed. Then Jesus goes up in the mountains and prays.
Now, this is a very important chain of events here and timing is important. The Disciples are at risk for storms and scary times. Jesus prays before the storm, not during, but before.
This is critical for us. We are susceptible to storms and other scary events. Just turn the news on any time of day. To be able to sustain our faith in the worst of storm we need to pray before the storm. We need to be comfortable with our relationship with God before the storm. We need to have a foundation of faith before the storm. Otherwise, when the storm hits, we are like the disciples. “They were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost! And they cried out in fear.”
Prayer does not mean the storms will pass us by but, rather, as illustrated by Jesus’ prayers in Gethsemane, a threefold plea to remove the cup followed by a peaceful unity of oneness with God’s will. Not merely suffering God’s will but vigorously doing it.
So, let’s get back to the story. Now Jesus arrives on the scene or at least close enough that he can see a boat load of panicing people. A site so chaotic that it can only be compared to the spilling of wine on the fair linen at an Altar guild convention.
Jesus immediately tells them, “it is I; do not be afraid.”
Now something incredible happens, that goes to the very core of our Christian faith.
Peter doesn’t say, “Jesus, hurry over here and get in the boat and calm things down.”
He says, “ Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”
Wow!
“Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”
This is so important I’m going to say it a third time, “Lord if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”
So, Peter got out of the boat, started walking on water and came toward Jesus. What do we have here?
Baptism.
Not waiting for Jesus to come bail us out of trouble but taking that step of faith toward Jesus even in the midst of the storm.
Now little Scarlett, born March 2, 2017 is about to be baptized. She doesn’t look to concerned about the affairs of the world. But, her parents are, her Godparents are, everyone in this congregation is concerned about the world in which Scarlett has now joined.
But the plea is not “Jesus get over here and take care of Scarlett.” The response is through the water of baptism a relationship with Jesus Christ is formed that has the potential of getting us through any storm.
It didn’t just turn all hunky-dory for Peter.
Don’t you love that word, “hunky-dory?”
The exact meaning is uncertain but one exotic theory traces “hunky-dory” to the archaic American slang word “hunk” meaning “safe” from the Dutch word, “honk” meaning “goal” or “home” in a game. The achieve “hunk” or “hunky” in a child’s game was to make it “home” and win the game.
(you missed me the last couple of weeks didn’t you?”
No it just didn’’t turn out all “hunky-dory” for Peter. Yes he was moving over the water of baptism closer to Jesus but “when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and began to sink.”
However, because he had the faith to step out of the boat he found himself close enough to Jesus that Jesus could reach out and take his hand and catch him. As Jesus takes his hand he says, “Ye of little faith, why did you doubt.”
Now we read this sometimes with a sarcastic or chiding tone of voice to Peter but did not Jesus say, if you have the faith of a mustard seed you can move mountains?
Perhaps Jesus is saying to little Scarlett right now and to each of us, “You of little faith,” were able to step out of the boat and make your way toward me. That is a sign of great courage in a sinful and broken world. That is a sign of great courage to profess the dignity of every human being when we are encouraged to be frightened of anyone different than we are. That is a sign of great courage to proclaim the love of neighbor when we live in a world so small that our neighbor may be continents away.
This passage is really a beautiful image of the Christian lives we lead.
You came this way this morning to have a relationship with God. You will leave here in a little while and when Monday morning comes you may suddenly feel as if Jesus has made you get in a boat and go off on your own.
As Jonah prayed from the belly of the whale familiar Psalms that he must have learned before being swallowed in his stormy experience, and as Jesus went to the mountain to pray before the storm, so do we practice our prayer life in anticipation of challenges and storms
As Peter stepped into the water to be drawn closer to his Lord so do we receive the water of bapism as a gesture of faith of appreciation and thankfulness.
Peter’s step, and our step, is very important because to realize the real power of this love story that we call Jesus Christ we must be willing to step out of the boat, willing to change our direction, and willing to abandon the comfort and security of the boat, which is illusory at best.
Our faith may be as small as little Scarlett is right now but you have taken the first step.