OT 19 A – Jesus rescues Peter

August 9, 2020
Fr. Bob Kus

In today’s Gospel reading from Matthew, we read a most amazing story of how Jesus saves Peter from a story sea.  We read:

“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 to 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 Peter, and said to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”  After they got into the boat, the wind died down” (Mt 14: 24-32).

The first thought one might have when reading this story, is “What was Peter thinking!  What he nuts!  Telling a ghost to have him walk on water in a raging storm!”  But Peter’s mental health, or lack thereof, is not the moral of the story.  The moral of the story is that we need to have faith in Jesus, for he can do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. 

And just as Jesus rescued Peter from his folly, Jesus can rescue us from the problems we get ourselves into in life.  And that is certainly good news!