Jesus made the disciples get into a boat
and precede him to the other side of the sea,
while he dismissed the crowds.
After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.
When it was evening he was there alone.
Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore,
was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it.
During the fourth watch of the night,
he came toward them, walking on the sea.
When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified.
It is a ghost
they said, and they cried out in fear.
At once Jesus spoke to them,
Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.
Peter said to him in reply,
Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.
He said,
Come.
Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.
But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened;
and, beginning to sink, he cried out,
Lord, save me!
Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him,
and said to him,
O you of little faith, why did you doubt?
After they got into the boat, the wind died down.
Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying,
Truly, you are the Son of God.
— Matthew 14:22-36
The peace of the Lord be with you. Years ago in Drivers Ed, my teacher repeatedly told me where your eyes point your head follows. Throughout the course of my life, that phrase has stayed with me and has reminded me of things on various levels. Where we put our eyes is where our focus will be and we will move in that direction.
A few years back, Father Mark Dollard (the pastor of Saint Rose) gave a homily on this particular gospel passage. Much like my Drivers Ed teacher, he reminded me in his homily that the reason Peter sunk was because he took his eyes off Jesus and put them on elements of the storm. This is a very common problem in our lives — we focus on the problem rather than the place where the solutions come from.
In this uncertain time it is easy to feel overwhelmed and filled with fear. This is one of those times where, like the disciples in the stormy sea, we need to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. Not only will he keep us safe, but he will also help us to do things that we did not think we were capable of. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.