TRULY, YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD
Jer 30.1-2,12-15. 18-22 ; Ps 101; Mt 14,22-36
7 AUGUST (Mt 15,21-28)
Jesus walks on the water. Peter asks Jesus to be able to walk on the lake too and Jesus fulfils his request. The wind is strong. Peter is frightened and is about to sink. He cries out to Jesus and is immediately saved. It is right that we ask ourselves: why is Peter not able to walk on the water? Why is he running the risk of sinking instead? It is answered that everything lies in the great difference between the faith of Jesus and the faith of Peter. Jesus is of very pure faith because he is of the most perfect obedience. Instead, Peter is with an imperfect and very incomplete faith, because his obedience is imperfect and full of gaps. If he had walked on the waves he could have had an idea of himself that did not correspond to the truth of his being and his heart. This principle must never be forgotten. It must always be remembered. Every disciple of Jesus can always operate according to his faith. If his faith is little, his works will always be little. If his faith is perfect, his works will be perfect. The more he will grow in faith and the more he will grow in the works. Whoever wants to grow in his works must always grow in faith. The works are for the disciple of Jesus the fruit of his faith.
But there is still a second principle that needs to be highlighted. If Peter had walked on the water he could have become proud. He could have admired his skill, humiliating his brothers. Instead he is about to drown and knows how great his fragility is. We can read this event in parallel with what happened the night of the passion. Peter had asked Jesus to walk on the waters of the cross. Jesus replied him that it was not possible. He wanted to go down on the water. He was about to drown. He immediately asked Jesus for help and the Lord saved him.
While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the high priest’s maids came along. Seeing Peter warming himself, she looked intently at him and said, “You too were with the Nazarene, Jesus.” But he denied it saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are talking about.” So he went out into the outer court. [Then the cock crowed.] The maid saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” Once again he denied it. A little later the bystanders said to Peter once more, “Surely you are one of them; for you too are a Galilean.” He began to curse and to swear, “I do not know this man about whom you are talking.” And immediately a cock crowed a second time. Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had said to him, “Before the cock crows twice you will deny me three times.” He broke down and wept (Mk 14,66-72).
Now Peter knows he must have an infinite patience in the exercise of his ministry.
Then he made the disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side, 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.” After making the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret. When the men of that place recognized him, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought to him all those who were sick and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak, and as many as touched it were healed.
What happened with Peter happens with every Christian. He will always experience that it is not possible immediately to walk on the sea. The Lord will grant this grace only at the end. Nobody must humiliate others with his own spiritual skill.
Mother of Jesus, Angels and Saints, dress every disciple of Jesus of great humility.