While Jesus is praying on the mountain, his disciples are crossing a turbulent sea. And he sees them in their distress and goes to them. When they see him crossing the water, he tells them "Take heart, it is I; have no fear". Now Peter, being impulsive as always, wants to join Jesus on the water. When he becomes aware of the storm around him and fear takes over, he sinks. And in his sinking, he cries out "Lord, save me". Of course Jesus is going to save him. And then Jesus says the often misinterpreted "you of little faith, why did you doubt?". But I'm getting ahead of myself...
His disciples are in a turbulent sea. How often do we find ourselves in the metaphorical "turbulent sea", fearing that we might drown? Whether it's a crisis at work, with our families, in our own hearts...we've all been there. And it can feel overwhelming! It's like we're being dragged along, gasping for air, hoping for it to all blow over. Like the disciples, Jesus had not abandoned them, he came to their aid. And he comes to our aid as well. But pay attention here...Jesus didn't rescue the disciples from pending distress, he stilled the storm that was happening around them. This story reminds us that life isn't always going to be easy. Our call to discipleship, our ministiries, our work...while it can be joyful and fruitful, it can also be stormy. But Jesus is there, and he will calm the storm. He is there with those words of peace "have no fear". He calms our anxiety, our worry and fear.
This is only part of the lesson though. Jesus invites us to be courageous and step into life--into discipleship--with all it's unpredictions. And when we start to sink, to fear the unknown, to have anxiety, to be uncertain...we pray the same prayer Peter did "Lord, save me". Lord, save me. Lord, here our prayer. And once again, Jesus is there, offering his hand to pull us up and out.
It calls to mind the sacrament of baptism. Our baptism is the beginning of our discipleship. However, our baptismal font isn't exactly a stormy sea! But the water in it serves to remind us that we have answered the call to follow Jesus, and to have faith that when we struggle, fear, and begin to sink, he is there, offering his hand, saying "have no fear".
Earlier I said that Jesus' "you of little faith, why do you doubt" statement is often misinterpreted. Some have understood it as a rebuke for the disciples still not understanding who Jesus is (even though they say "he is the Son of God"). Some have understood it as a rebuke for those who have no faith...that even after all the miracles Jesus has performed, they still doubt. I think what's going on here is an acknowledgment that the disciples were growing in their faith, but they still had moments of doubt. And who among us don't?! Aren't we all on a path of discipleship, constantly growing in our faith, but still having moments of doubts...wondering if God is with us when we are struggling? And yet Jesus says, "take heart, it is I; have no fear".
From time to time I've been in conversation with some of you about the future of the church and the diocese. And we've talked about the unknowns and all the anxiety it causes. In many ways, the church is a microcosim of the country and the world. We don't know what's coming down the pipe. We don't know what the future is going to look like. As a church, as a nation, we are in a time of turbulent seas and sometimes doubt. The lesson to be learned from this gospel story is to take heart, have no fear, and when we do, pray "Lord save us".