Who Are You Looking At?
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
This weekend’s Gospel passage depicts the disciples sent out across the sea ahead of Jesus. The Scriptures tell us that the boat they were in was “being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it.” Late in the night, Jesus comes to them walking on the water. That Jesus is able to walk atop the turbulent water is evidence of his dominion over the chaos.
Jesus first greets the disciples with the invitation to not be afraid and then invites Peter to come to him across the water. In other words, Jesus asks Peter to share in his power to have dominion over the turbulent waters. Peter begins to do what is humanly impossible – he walks on the water toward Jesus.
Water serves as a symbol of many things in the Scriptures. In relationship to baptism is symbolizes cleansing and new life. In the account of the woman at the well, the “life giving water” that Jesus described was symbolic of saving grace leading to eternal life. But water can also depict turbulence and the powers of evil tossing the Boat of Peter (representing the Church) all around and threatening to sink it. The Ancients did not have the modern technology that we have to master the seas and their storms, so storms at sea were feared and often life-threatening.
But, while Peter has his eyes fixed on Jesus, he is able to do the impossible. It is only when he shifts his gaze off the Lord and focuses on the wind, the rain and the waves – the chaos – that he begins to sink.
The world, and in some ways the Church, seems to be in a heck of a storm right now. We are being tossed about by the chaotic waves of confusion, deceit and half-truths; by division, accusations, and by political/ideological polarity. What are we to do?
I don’t have the answers to the many problems that rock the world right now. But taking a lead from today’s Gospel, I’d suggest not focusing quite so much on the storm and fixing one’s gaze more intimately and steadily on Jesus, the only one who has dominion over the storm. You might ask yourself how you might best shift your gaze away from the storm and onto Jesus. Fixed on him, all things are possible, even what might seem impossible.
Sincerely yours in Christ Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life,
