Pentecost 9 A: Whole-Hearted Faith
Dear Partner in Preaching,
Have you ever noticed that it’s often in the most challenging times of life that we sense God’s presence most clearly? I’m not saying it should be this way. Or that God only appears when we most need God. Rather, I think that there’s just something about significant challenges and trials that clarify our priorities and cut through the manifold distractions of everyday life so that we may see God more clearly.
I think that’s part of what’s going on in today’s Gospel reading. After feeding the thousands who followed him into the wilderness, Jesus commands the disciples to head across the sea without him while he remains on shore to send the crowds on their way and then spend some time in communion with his Father on the mountain. While the disciples are crossing, a storm arises that threatens to engulf them. They spend the better part of an anxious night navigating the waves, and in the early hours of the morning Jesus strides across the water to meet them.
Mistaking Jesus for a wave-walking specter, the disciples grow even more alarmed as he draws near. In response, Jesus reassures them that it is he who is coming to them. His encouragement works…and then some, as Peter is emboldened to ask if he might join Jesus out on the water. At first confident given his Lord’s assent, Peter soon remembers the height of the waves and depth of the sea and loses heart, whereupon Jesus reaches out and grabs him. While Jesus remarks on his lack of faith, it’s at this moment that the disciples see Jesus as if for the first time, confessing, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Which is interesting, when you think about it. I mean, Jesus had just fed thousands upon thousands of helpless and vulnerable people, revealing both divine power and divine compassion. And yet it’s here, at this moment of extremity, when the disciples perceive most clearly who Jesus is.
So part of what strikes me in this passage is how it reveals something deeply true about humanity, as I have a hunch the disciples are not alone in this penchant. I know, at least, that I have often overlooked God’s presence in the peaceful and pleasant portions of my life yet called out in earnest when things took a difficult turn.
I’m not totally sure why this is, but I think part of it is that we spend a fair amount of our time and energy trying to establish a stable, safe, and secure life, both for us and those we love. There’s nothing wrong with that on one level. From the beginning, God desires that we flourish, and stability promotes growth. But all too often we note our modest success and assume we no longer need God, or at least forget how much a part of our lives God is and desires to be. Or perhaps we confuse safety and stability with abundant life. Either way, we may forget how much we depend on God. Until tragedy strikes in the form of illness and job loss or the end of a relationship or some grave mistake we’ve made, and suddenly our ongoing need for God becomes painfully clear.
But the story doesn’t only tell us about ourselves, it also tells us about God. This in two ways. First, no matter what it is that reminds us of our need for God, still God responds. Just as Jesus reassures the disciples and reaches out to grab hold of Peter, so also God responds to us with compassion and support. Second, and I’d argue more importantly, God not only responds to our need, but actually desires that we seek to live lives of abundance and courage. Notice that Jesus actually commanded the disciples to cross the sea to go ahead of him, trusting them to navigate both sea and storm. And while some commentators may suggest that Peter’s request to join Jesus upon the waves is a mark impetuous foolishness, I suspect there was some delight in Jesus’ summons to Peter to come out from the boat.
I’m also struck by Jesus’ three-fold response to the disciples. First, he urges them to “take heart.” Second, he reveals his presence with, among, and for them. For while we translate what Jesus utters as “It is I,” the Greek is more sparse, succinct, and significant: “I Am.” I suspect that neither the disciples nor Matthew’s audience would mistake the pronouncement of the divine name. Third, having revealed his presence and identity, Jesus then encourages the disciples once more to leave fear behind and live what Brené Brown calls “whole-hearted” lives.
And I think this is still God’s desire for us. God desires, that is, that we trust that God is with us and for us and thereby live with courage and hope, taking chances, risking ourselves in relationship, seeking the welfare of the individuals and community around us, all the while remembering that even when we overlook God’s presence yet God is always there, sometimes to encourage us to overcome our fears, sometimes sending us out ahead, and sometimes reaching out to grab hold of us in forgiveness, mercy, comfort, and grace.
So perhaps this week, Dear Partner, we might both promise our people that God is with us in the difficult part of our lives, responding to our fears and cries for help with the promise of God’s presence and comfort. But then we might also go one step further and imagine with our people the hopes and dreams God has for us – both as individuals and as a community of faith – and promise them that God is encouraging us to cross rough waters and even to step out of the boat in faith, trusting that God is there to grab hold of us in need. Perhaps we can do that in the prayer, inviting time for petitions about those particular challenges or fears we confront, ending each petition by saying, “God is with us in our need.” And then we might invite a time for calling to mind or naming future possibilities, ending those petitions with, “God calls us to whole-hearted lives of courage and hope.”
However you do approach this, the key, I think, is to remind folks that while God is eager to respond to our deepest needs, God also invites us to more adventuresome lives of faith as well. God wants more for us, frankly, than simply safety and stability, and therefore God calls us to stretch, grown, and live into the abundant life God has promised us, trusting that God is always with us.
And it’s not just our people who need these words of promise. We do as well. Because at times you may wonder why you’ve been sent to cross what feels like very rough water. And at other times you may feel God is calling you out of your comfort zone. And at still others you may have wished very much that you would have just stayed in the boat. But no matter where you find yourself this particular week or season of your ministry, Dear Partner, know this: God is there for you, revealing God’s presence, promising comfort, and calling forth courage. What you do matters, for yours are the beautiful feet, as St. Paul writes in today’s second reading, that bring the message of good news to God’s beloved people. Thank you. Even more, thank God for you.
Yours in Christ,
David
Notes: 1) For a different, and perhaps more traditional, reading of this text, you can see what I wrote on this passage three years ago at Working Preacher. Interesting how one’s view change – or perhaps what different things we see – over time.
2) Whether you preach on it or not, take a moment to read this portion of Paul’s letter to the Romans and let those words remind you of the importance of your calling.
3) The post image is “Christ Rescuing Peter from Drowning,” by Lorenzo Veneziano (1370).
‘God is encouraging us to cross rough waters and even to step out of the boat in faith, trusting that God is there to grab hold of us in need.’
Praise God, David, for such Spirit-filled words! … May Christ continue to bless us on our pilgrimage to discover more about the wonder of our Lord, just as Peter did, even if that means stepping out of the boat in the fiercest of storms … but keeping our eyes fixed always on Him.
– Paul Mclaughlin / Lincolnshire / England
I listened to a commentary on Peter’s water walking which said one of the great things about this story is how much we can relate to Peter. Peter can summon up a little faith and then fear overcomes him and he falls. This is often true of us as well. We can find faith for a while and then life’s difficulties or monotony or fears overwhelm us and we fall short again. I can relate to this myself so very well. But the problem for me is that this does not make this a great story but rather a troubling one. Here I manage to summon up a little bit of faith (elsewhere Jesus seems to praise even a mustard seed of faith) and the response of Jesus seems to be “Wow, that’s the best you can do? Ye of little faith”. I am even tempted to hear it in my head complete with a derisive. So, as Paul quoted above if we step out of the boat trusting God is there to grab us in need… but then will scoff at our lack of faith. Not a comforting thought. Hence I am having a little writer’s block on this one. Thoughts?
That’s a great question, Sheri. Often with what sounds like rebuke, I try to imagine whether Jesus said these words in anger or grief. Maybe it doesn’t make all that much difference when you’re on the receiving end, but it feels different if he is sad or mad. At the same time, I think the thrust – esp. after both the feeding and now the walking on water – is dismay at the level of doubt. And yet…he still grabbed hold of him. I think that’s what it comes down to, as whether we feel filled by faith or struggle to muster even a little, yet Jesus will not let us go. For what it’s worth….
Thanks for raising the issue.
I think maybe Jesus was responding as close friends might respond–“Did you think I wouldn’t be here for you?!?” As only close friends can say to each other, meaning–OF COURSE, I am here to help you not to sink to the bottom…ok, so you got a little wet; now we get through this together.
Hi Sheri
I understand only too well those fears that you mention regarding faith(if Jesus says that a mustard seed of faith is all sufficient at one time, then why the comment ‘Oh ye of little faith!’on another occasion?).
When Jesus says those words to Peter, ‘Oh ye of little faith!’He’d just reached-out and saved him from drowning. Peter’s life, and ours, are so precious to Jesus. We are then told that moments later, all the disciples in the boat worshipped Jesus … including Peter. This was the first time, in Matthew’s Gospel, that the disciples actually worshipped Jesus. My understanding is that that was just what Peter and the other disciples needed to hear so as to go that one step further, in faith, and to worship Jesus.
I think that’s what I meant, above, about us being on a pilgrimage, a journey, to discover more and more about the wonder of our Lord. There’s so much for us to discover, under His cover of love.
Peter, of course, would one day give-up his own life in support of who Jesus was, which stemmed from a heart-felt recognition of how deeply he knew he was loved by Jesus.
So thank you so much for highlighting your concern, Sheri, about how we are meant to measure our faith … it shows that you are already on that marvellous pilgrimage of discovery. Yes, there will be lots of tough moments, but stick with it and your faith and worship will grow as Jesus reaches-out His arm …. and what a truly amazing smile of love and acceptance you will find on the face of Jesus, as He looks upon you and encourages you, just as He did with Peter, and says: ‘Come!’
– Paul Mclaughlin
Custom would put forward that Peter’s lack of faith was why he sank.
As I see it, it’s better said that Peter’s lack of faith had more to do with his overall intention.
The cruelling wave storm simply provoked the natural result.
Peter’s behavior was demanding and perhaps came from someplace other than common sense. There was no need for Peter to walk on water. And reminds me a bit of someone saying to God, “Grant me a million bucks and show me your real.”
Maybe Jesus is simply making an observation. The mustard seed parable is on the horizon. I wonder if we don’t often read anger or disappointment into Jesus’ words when we really don’t know the tone of His response. I suspect that because of our own feelings of inadequacy we might project that Jesus is scolding or rebuking. He might have actually found some humor in this situation for the very reasons you have shared, David.
James R. Adams goes even further in a take on Jesus’ “rebuke” that has stuck with me ever since I read “So You Think You Can’t Stand Evangelism” many years ago. He sees oligopistoi (“the little faith ones”) as a term of endearment. What a different emotional tone if we hear Jesus’ words as a tender nickname? See http://progressivechristianity.org/resources/jesus-and-his-friends-of-little-faith/
Yes, that changes everything.
That’s incredibly helpful, Lisa, and new for me. Thank you!
You’re welcome 🙂 And thank you very much for this post, as your sense of Jesus’ delight, and especially your final paragraph of pastoral caring, were incredibly helpful to me. Jesus says not to be afraid, and Peter actually listens! I was honestly planning to preach something along the lines of “stay in the boat!”–a product of my own wave-weariness–but courage and comfort are what my folks and I need to hear. And a new-to-me Brene Brown TED talk as a bonus! Thank God for you too.
I wonder if Jesus’ comment about Peter’s lack of faith was a friendly remark between close friends. After all Peter did get out of the boat (no lack of faith there).
Some have guessed that Jesus called Simon Bar Jonah “The Rock/Peter” because he sank so quickly in this episode.
I like to think Jesus a real sense of humor. The kind of humor close friends share. Jesus is the kind of friend that is always there. In silence or storm.
Robert,
I am with you. Once we lose the sense that all of the people in Scripture, including Jesus, were human, then the stories we read become mere fiction. If we picture the characters with halos about their heads we can no longer relate the them or to the situation in which we find them. All of these Scripture characters laughed and cried, hurt and rejoiced, experienced fear and peace. Jesus cried when he lost friends. Peter wept real tears when he came to terms with his denial of Jesus. Mary was angry with Jesus when he came too late to save Lazarus. So Jesus could easily have been teasing Peter. I like the thought. Thanks.
Dear David+,
You could not know then in 2014 how deeply clergy would need to hear your words now in 2020: “And it’s not just our people who need these words of promise. We do as well. Because at times you may wonder why you’ve been sent to cross what feels like very rough water. And at other times you may feel God is calling you out of your comfort zone. And at still others you may have wished very much that you would have just stayed in the boat. But no matter where you find yourself this particular week or season of your ministry, Dear Partner, know this: God is there for you, revealing God’s presence, promising comfort, and calling forth courage. What you do matters, for yours are the beautiful feet, as St. Paul writes in today’s second reading, that bring the message of good news to God’s beloved people. Thank you. Even more, thank God for you.”
Thank you for your prophetic witness.
Diana+
Yes, I concur with Diana’s comment. You could never have known, David, how apt your words would be for the situation the world finds itself in , in the midst of this raging storm of the pandemic. I always appreciate your wise words on the week’s Gospel reading and your encouragement of us clergy and preachers in our efforts to relate the readings to our people’s and our own journeys of faith. I watch with disbelief the rapidly growing numbers of infection in the US and the barriers faced by those trying to stem the tide. My prayers are with all Jesus’ people there as you work and care for the grieving and the angry. God bring you all safely back into the boat.
Marilyn