Matthew 14:22-33
As soon as the meal was finished, he insisted that the disciples get in the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he dismissed the people. With the crowd dispersed, he climbed the mountain so he could be by himself and pray. He stayed there alone, late into the night.
Meanwhile, the boat was far out to sea when the wind came up against them and they were battered by the waves. At about four o’clock in the morning, Jesus came toward them walking on the water. They were scared out of their wits. “A ghost!” they said, crying out in terror.
But Jesus was quick to comfort them. “Courage, it’s me. Don’t be afraid.”
Peter, suddenly bold, said, “Master, if it’s really you, call me to come to you on the water.”
He said, “Come ahead.”
Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, “Master, save me!”
Jesus didn’t hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand. Then he said, “Faint-heart, what got into you?”
The two of them climbed into the boat, and the wind died down. The disciples in the boat, having watched the whole thing, worshiped Jesus, saying, “This is it! You are God’s Son for sure!”
~ ~ ~
When I was little my dad created a pond across the street from our house. In warmer months we would catch frogs and pollywogs and as the weather turned colder, we would check daily, waiting for it to freeze. When the ice was sufficiently solid, floods of friends and neighbors would come over to skate. Every afternoon boys would play hockey often asking us to turn on the flood lights as they played into the early evening. Because we had the pond at our disposal I always felt like I should have been a better skater but skating on a pond is tricky. The ice is polluted with leaves and sticks, there are unexpected ruts, cracks and slush all of which made me a very tentative skater. I often spent my time on the ice with my eyes down rather than up, enjoying the view speeding by.
I’ve never walked on water that wasn’t frozen, but it sounds pretty cool. Matthew makes it sound as though Peter was also tentative as he tread, the surface wasn’t flat, smooth or still and he found walking trickier than expected. At one point he looks down and when he sees waves crashing at his feet he remembers the depth of water below him, he realizes what he has to lose and he panics. Jesus grabs his hand to steady him and the men continue their walk back to the boat. Climbing in probably a similar feeling to stepping from ice and onto real ground that is jarringly still.
Peter had been with Jesus quite a while at this point. He had seen Jesus perform numerous miracles, in fact they had just come from Jesus multiplying the fish and the loaves. How could someone who knew Jesus so well still doubt him? Shouldn’t he have known he could trust him? I practically lived on our pond when I was a kid and people were often surprised I wasn’t more fearless when I skated. Ironically, my caution came from being on the pond so much. I knew the corner where the ice thawed first and where it thawed second. I knew where the worst of the limbs tended to fall and where a collection of leaves always froze just under the surface, creating almost an invisible rug on the ice. I knew the expanse where I could go really fast but I was also aware of a possible new crack. Sometimes when people hear of someone spends a lot of time in church or has been raised as a Christian, they assume that person must be fearless when it comes to faith but oftentimes the opposite is true, knowing God can make us cautious. We know that while prayers are always answered but it’s not always what we want to hear and sometimes God’s answer slams us onto cold, hard ice. Life of faith has moments of beautiful sailing when everything seems to be shining like crystals, but it also comes with jarring surprises that makes even the best of us call out to Jesus, needing to feel his hand catch us. The key is to not live like I skated or Peter walked, eyes looking down, fully aware of danger. Instead we need our eyes up, on Jesus walking beside us, enjoying the wondrous view he has provided.
~ Upcoming Events ~
Sunday, March 4
Team 1 Acolyting
Children’s Liturgy
10 am | Chapel
Sunday School
10:30 am | Sunday School Classrooms
Teachers: Shawna, Antonio and Heather
Youth Group
5-7 pm
Please RSVP to Heather
~
Sunday, March 11
Team 2 Acolyting
Children’s Liturgy
10 am | Chapel
Sunday School
10:30 am | Sunday School Classrooms
~
Sunday, March 18
Team 3 Acolyting
Children’s Liturgy
10 am | Chapel
Sunday School
10:30 am | Sunday School Classrooms
~
Sunday, March 25
Palm Sunday
Team 4 Acolyting
Children’s Liturgy
10 am | Chapel
Sunday School
10:30 am | Sunday School Classrooms
Teaching: Darcy, Jaden, Antonio & Heather
~
Spring Break Activities
Don’t be bored this spring, join us for fun!
Monday, March 26
Natural History Museum
Critter Club
10-10:45
Critter Club is a family friendly program that introduces 3- to 5-year-olds and a participating adult to the Museum’s live animals.
Junior Scientists
10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Junior Scientist is specially designed for 6- to 9-year-olds and their families. Packed with activities, demonstrations, and an up-close look at some cool (and sometimes creepy crawly) highlights from our collection, each month is a crash course in one of the many fields of science explored at the Museum.
~
Tuesday, March 27
California Science Center
King Tut Exhibit and Imax
~
Wednesday, March 28
Kidspace Museum for Caterpillar Adoption Days
~
Thursday, March 29
Passover Seder
Parish Hall | 6 pm
~
Friday, March 30
Ice Skating
1 pm | Pasadena Skate Center
$15 per person
~
Sunday, April 1
Easter Sunday
Please join us for a massive Easter Egg hunt on the Close,
following the 10 am service.
Youth Group
5-7 pm
Please feel free to contact Heather if you have questions.
