Step Out Onto the Water

The 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today’s Readings: [Click here]

In the gospel today, we hear the well-known story of Jesus walking on water. The disciples in the boat who saw this were petrified. Since walking on water is not your everyday human activity, their brains were telling them it had to be something supernatural—like a ghost floating over the waves—or a hallucination. Jesus reassured them that what they saw was real, and that it was he, and that there was nothing to be afraid of.

Can you hear Peter’s bold challenge? “Oh yeah? If it’s you, I want to walk on the water, too. Call me over.” When Christ gave the command, Peter actually did it—until the point when he let his natural fears convince him that what he was doing was a physical impossibility. Only then did he begin to sink.

It’s pretty awesome to realize just how little we can grasp of the power that God puts at the fingertips of believers. Listen to these familiar bible verses:

“If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea’; and it would obey you” (Lk 17:6).

Or this one:

“And these signs will accompany those who have believed: in my name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues, they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it shall not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover” (Mk 16:17-18).

How quick we are to dismiss these promises as hyperbole. Use your mind to transplant a full-grown tree? Drink poison? Heal sick people with faith alone? Turn bread into Jesus’ flesh? Preposterous! He only meant those things figuratively.

Or did he?

All through the gospels, Jesus tries to draw us more deeply into his power. He wants us to share in his divine abilities. Our faith and belief are the portals. That’s why he told the apostles, “I tell you the truth: anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these… You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it” (Jn 14:11-12, 14).

It’s no surprise that believing you have that kind of power is rather hard to swallow. So for the most part we resist believing and asking and trying things because we cannot even begin to grasp the mystery of the Lord’s promise. Just like a housefly that lands and crawls over a computer and knows nothing about the power under its little legs, we too don’t even have the foggiest idea of the richness of the reality that God is constantly offering us.

As a consequence, most of us tend to believe that we can’t do things… we can’t change our lives, much less our world. Maybe we think that miracles don’t happen like they did in biblical times. Maybe we think we’re not good enough or worthy enough. Whatever the justification, our negative thinking is so powerful and pervasive, that we are prevented from experiencing the richness of life that God wants us to have… and holds out to us.

But the good news is, Jesus is well aware of our doubts and limitations. That’s why St. Paul wrote that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings (Rom 8:26). And Jesus, who knows all our possibilities and potential, prays for us constantly—whether we are exuberant or cautious, fearful or bold. This prayer is his free gift to us. All he asks is that we may accept this gift so we can begin to be transformed by the power of his prayer.

There was a woman who had a dream about being at the mall. She walked into one of the stores and found Jesus standing behind the counter. Jesus said to her, “You can have anything your heart desires.”

The woman was very surprised—but delighted. So she thought for a minute and then asked for peace, joy, happiness, wisdom and freedom from fear. Then she added, “Not just for me, but for the whole world.”

Jesus smiled and said, “I think you misunderstood me. We don’t sell fruits; only seeds.”

Like Peter, we are invited to step outside of our self-imposed limitations into the world of faith. To mortal eyes, walking on water is impossible… but with eyes of faith, we may see that it quite possibly is doable! We have to take the seed and plant it, trusting and hoping that God will water it and make it grow.

Take a little time this week to reflect on the amazing possibilities that Jesus has laid at your feet. Remember his potent words: “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Then step out onto the water.