THEN SOMETHING HAPPENS

[1]We all have an idea about what the right thing to do is, and we have confidence in ourselves to pretty much do the right thing. We see ourselves behaving the same way most of the time. The right way. Almost all of us, even criminals, think we live up to a certain code. That ethical view is formed in part by the people around us as we grow up, by our religion, and by a host of little actions by other people we know and trust. We know what is right and what is wrong. We can count on ourselves to behave in the right way. And then something happens.

For Peter it was his challenge to Jesus to prove his identity by asking, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” (Mt 14:28) Then something happens. Peter steps out of the boat, onto the water, he sees the wind and waves, begins to sink, and calls on Jesus to save him. Why does it seem, as we become more familiar with the New Testament, that Jesus is always picking on St. Peter? The simple answer may be, we are St. Peter. That is to say, we are a lot like him. We all need to be nudged now and then, encouraged, and corrected at times. We may believe we are doing the right thing, yet sometimes we may need to be told we just don’t “get it.”

Pope Francis, in his book The Gospel of Matthew, writes: “Peter’s character, with his passion and his weakness, can describe our faith: ever fragile and impoverished, anxious yet victorious. Christian faith walks in the midst of the world’s storms and dangers to meet the risen Lord.” Like Peter in today’s Gospel, we are strong when we keep our eyes on Jesus. But then something happens, we look away, get distracted, or think too much, it’s then we need to hear Jesus say: “Come. Have faith. Do not be afraid.”

Pope Francis sees the boat as an excellent image of the Church. We’re all in this boat together—a boat we are called to invite others into. Maybe the better image is an ark. An ark in which we can feel secure, despite stormy times, in our limitations and weaknesses. Like Peter, we can be all gung-ho Christians and yet have moments when we’re simply faithless and just plain sinful. Beyond this, God sees our heart, as he saw Peter’s, the heart of a leader, a believer, a lover, a person desiring to do what is right in God’s eyes. Like Peter, we are called to be people of great faith—and then to act on that faith[2] even when something happens.

When we look back at our lives, we may recall events that made us recognize who we are and who Jesus really is. Then, when that something happens, we can say with great faith, along with the apostles in the boat, “You are truly the Son of God.” (Mt 14:33)

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[1] Scripture (NABRE), Numbers 12:1-13; Matthew 14:22-36

[2] Weekday HomilyHelps Homily Suggestion by Linus Mundy.