Long ago and far away in my seminary days, I learned that if the scriptures seem too easy to understand, it can mean that we're missing something. And so a deeper time of reading, studying, and praying over those passages can reveal some exciting truths.
Now, I'm going to skim over Joseph's brothers, whose mob-mentality bloodlust is only changed by greed, so instead of murder they engage in some biblical human trafficking. (And this became a broadway musical for children!) Thank goodness we've read the happy-ish ending.
And I'll by-pass the Psalmist's option to reiterate the realities of slavery and of God's presence with the oppressed.
And let's even speed through Paul's letter, which is telling the church of Rome to stop their systemic discrimination based on place of worship or skin colour, because the Good News of God has no place for that hatred.
On second thought - let me say that one again, in case I moved by too quickly - because our society is living the reality of that church of Rome. The Good News means taking action to stop discrimination based on place of worship or skin colour, because the Good News of God has no place for that hatred.
And beautiful are the feet of those who bring THAT truth to the world.
Moving on - to the storm of the Gospel. There's a LOT happening in the Gospel, and sometimes we don't go very deep into it (if you'll pardon the pun!)
Disciples go fishing, storm comes up, Jesus walks on water. Peter goes out and walks, doubts and sinks, is saved by Jesus, and boom we're all back in the same boat.
...except...
Let's think about this a bit more.
The passage first starts by reminding us all of the need to pray. Jesus and his disciples have just fed the 5000+ people, so some heavy lifting and teaching has happened. Jesus wanted that little bit of time by himself, just to pray.
So: here the Gospel reminds us of the priority of prayer in our lives. Of intentional connection with the source of love and life; not just a list of demands and expectations, but expressing gratitude and seeking inspiration to seek justice and peace in the name of Christ.
So let's think about the fishing: the disciples are seeking a comfortable place - it's what they know, after all. And yet - a storm comes up and literally tosses everything about. Their plans, intentions, safety, even their hope for some respite. All gone - because storms - be they literal of figurative - unsettle us.
This is not unlike our lives right now: the whole world is a storm. COVID continues, we don't know what's going to happen, tempers are short, we've been in State of Emergency for months...
And here the Gospel reminds us that in the midst of the storm, Jesus sees our concern and confusion - and comes to us. When we're too paralyzed by fear to come to Jesus, Jesus does everything humanly possible - and divinely possible, when human limitations are in place - to come to us and comfort us.
But let's consider the approach. Unexpected, unlikely, physically impossible... Jesus walks out on the water in the middle of the storm. Yeah. I'm not sure that first sight would calm my nerves, either. I think the disciple's panic was entirely appropriate!
And here the Gospel reminds us that God will speak to us in ways and at times that we are not anticipating... and with messages we are not prepared for... and with a message of such simple and constant profundity - "it is I, do not be afraid" - that we really shouldn't be surprised when it's spoken into our hearts.
So now let's think about how the followers and friends of Jesus reacted to all this... well, we know what Peter did - he cheekily challenged Jesus to prove himself! Rather brazen.
Yet out he goes, walking on water, in a storm, towards the Son of God. When: crisis of faith. Distracted by the wind and waves, with his focus on earthly challenges rather than divine love: *splash* Peter's in the drink.
Well, who hasn't been there? Daring God to prove something to us, asking for the impossible, making unrealistic one-sided bargains... and falling into disbelief when we're distracted by the metaphorical waves of life crash over us.
And yet again, the Gospel here reminds us that we are not, in fact, sinking. That waves are just waves; temporary, passing, a small part of the whole. And let's let the Gospel wash over us with the truth that God doesn't let Peter sink - and God won't let us sink, either. As we, like Peter, cry out for God to save our souls, Jesus will immediately reach out and catch us.
So after Jesus has pointed out that Peter has a little faith - it's important, I think, to note that he never calls him faithless! But when Jesus asks Peter why he doubted, there's no reply. Total silence. Is he ashamed? Confused? Uncertain? We don't know.
And the Gospel reminds us that even when we are silent before God, with little faith and pondering the still-raging storm, we are invited to think about how we might respond during our own faith crises. Perhaps reflecting on why we doubt will lead us to learn from our own doubts and to grow our faith even in the middle of the world's howling winds.
And now for the final point - the other disciples never left the boat. Throughout all of this, they never left the boat - they stayed there, holding their equipment, and each other, doing what was best for the entire group. No one else tried to walk on water, no one else made any comment. They stayed the course, knowing that together they were safer. Knowing that their faith was going to be an asset throughout the storm. Knowing that community was important. And trusting that Jesus would not leave them afloat forever - which, of course, he does not.
The Gospel reminds us of the power and grace of being in community - even when we're not all in one place. Of holding the course, even when we feel personally inconvenienced. Of showing extreme care for others even when it doesn't fit with our personal agenda. What a gift for us in our COVID world when we see so many folks following those same precepts of love and care being intentionally acted upon in community.
This whole passage reveals to us a lot about the followers of Jesus - that no matter what choices they make, and wherever they are on their journey: Jesus is there: when folks needed proof, and when they believed; when their faith is weak, and when it is strong; when they leapt into action, and when they stayed the course; when they sink and when they stay afloat; when the storm is raging, and when the calmness comes.
What a wonderful lesson from the scriptures - for Peter, for the disciples - and for us.
May we learn that we are given the miracles of trust, of care, and of community. May we celebrate the calmness that Jesus brings to our lives, as we weather life's storms together. May we be thankful that scripture continually invites us to go deeper into even the most well-known stories, that we might learn new and exciting truths about just how amazing God's strength and love and grace is in our lives.
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