Matthew 14:22-33
Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking towards them on the lake. But when the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.’
Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came towards Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’ When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshipped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’
Today we begin our 5-week Lenten series entitled, “The Hand of the Lord.” Each week we’ll be presented with readings that have Jesus doing something unique with his hands or the author referencing his hands somehow. In this time of prayerful reflection, I thought it would be helpful to be reminded of Christ’s love and encouragement as conveyed through his hands. Take a moment to think of your own hands and/or the hands of someone you love. What makes them so loving? Their warmth and tenderness? Their strength and power? Their assurance and security? It’s amazing to consider all the love that is conveyed through our hands. Yes, we use other body parts to convey our love to others as well but so much of it is conveyed through our hands.
In our reading for today, we heard how the disciples were caught in the sea during a storm. They looked out on the waters and saw Jesus coming towards them and were terrified, believing him to be a ghost. Jesus, cried out, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” He then called Peter to come out on the waters and walk towards him. Peter obeyed and was walking on the waters before fear and doubt got ahold of him and he began to sink. He cried out, “Lord, save me!” And then what happened? We heard “Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him.” Jesus used his hand to save Peter, just as he uses his hands to save us. And though the reading doesn’t expressly say so, I like to envision Jesus extending his hand to Peter before he even got out of the boat as a visual invitation. Jesus was holding up his hand the whole time he was on the waters and thus creating an opportunity for Peter to take a leap of faith and walk of the waters.
So it is with us. Jesus creates opportunities for us to leave the safety and security of our lives and follow him. Not necessarily by creating the storms of our lives but rather by giving true shelter. I mean, how safe were the disciples in that boat during the storm? Sure, they weren’t drowning but they were exposed to the wind and the rain and the lightning. It was only a matter of time before the waves would overtake them or lightning struck them. They weren’t really safe sitting in that boat during the storm. Jesus creates truly safe spaces. And when fears and doubts overwhelm us and we begin to sink, that same hand reaches out and pulls us up out of the waters.
The storms of life may rise up all around us. Rather than be afraid of them or get overwhelmed by them, we ought see them as opportunities to seek shelter in him. Opportunities for us to place our trust in him and get out of our boats and walk towards him. And as we’re walking on the waters, if we become scared and begin to sink, then Jesus will extend his outstretched hand to save us. We can trust in this! He will save us!
As we set out on Lenten journey, we acknowledge it is a journey into the unknown. We don’t know where the journey will take us. Well, we know it’ll take us to the Easter resurrection. But we don’t know the journey along the way. Prayer and reflection and self-examination and penitence can lead us down any number of rabbit holes! But we ought not be afraid because Jesus will always be standing off to the side with an outstretched hand, inviting us into true safety. And when we sink into fear and doubt, he will save us with that same hand. Believe it, trust it, and give thanks for it! Thanks be to God!
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
