Romans 10:5-15
Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that 'the person who does these things will live by them.' But the righteousness that comes from faith says, 'Do not say in your heart, "Who will ascend into heaven?"' (that is, to bring Christ down) 'or "Who will descend into the abyss?"' (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? 'The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart' (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, 'No one who believes in him will be put to shame.'
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.' But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'
Matthew 14:22-43
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 toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, 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 toward 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 worshiped him, saying, 'Truly you are the Son of God.'
Don't Look Down
In reading the gospel text, I am reminded of the old cartoon image-where the character is running and running and running and running until there is no more space. The cliff is reached, but the character keeps running anyway, not really noticing there is no more ground beneath him. And all is well; in the cartoon the character is running on air-until it occurs to him to look down. As soon as our cartoon character realizes that they are running on air, that is it, and soon he is plummeting down to the ground. Again, all is well until he looks down.
It happens to Peter this morning…he puts Jesus to the test: "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." Be careful what you ask for! And Jesus says to him, "Come." Peter gets out of the boat and starts walking towards Jesus, and all is well. But soon he realizes what he is doing, he looks around and remembers where he is, he notices the wind and the water and begins to sink. Peter cries out, "Save me!" Peter, in effect is a bit like our cartoon character-he looks down.
We continue as we have been in reading from the discipleship passages in Matthew. Jesus has just finished feeding the multitudes and immediately tells the disciples to go on ahead of him; and he goes off to pray. While they are traveling across the Sea of Galilee a storm comes up and they are a bit afraid in battling the storm. Then in the morning they see Jesus walking across the water towards them; again they afraid-this time thinking they are seeing a ghost. Jesus tells them do not be afraid. After all this Peter decides to step out so to speak; to test the waters. You have to admire Peter's faith at this point in stepping out on the water. He's ready to follow Jesus. And indeed, all is well until he loses focus.
This story was first of all a story for the early church, as Matthew's community struggled with following Jesus, keeping focused, and remaining faithful in the midst of being battered by the storms of controversy that raged around this new sect. It is a reminder to keep the faith; to not lose heart. Jesus could feed the multitudes and calm the storms-surely Jesus could keep them on the path.
It is next, of course a story for us on this summer day in August 2005. We face some of the same issues as the early church community; and we face some that community could never have imagined. Like them we are charged to be disciples. The ending of Matthew's gospel is our charge: "Go make of all disciples." Like Peter, we are to step out on the promises and commandments of Jesus. And like Peter, we sometimes lose our focus and look down. We face so many distractions-internal and external. And as those issues rage about us the temptation is to look away from Jesus. The moment we do so of course the wind and waves will become a threat. I am reminded of an experience several years ago when an April snowstorm came up suddenly while I was driving across on 195. Visibility was almost gone. What kept me going was the car in front of me. I could see their tail lights, and the track they were making. As long as I kept entirely focused on their lights and that track I knew I was ok. That's what this gospel story is about.
The moment we take our eyes off Jesus we are lost. When we as the church body focus on finances, or buildings, or even our program first we are lost. Everything we do has to come first from following Jesus. When we as God's people allow ourselves to be distracted by the raging of the world around us we are lost. How frightening to look at the storms of life without the lens of our faith. I don't know about you, but without that lens I would certainly lose heart. Without focusing first on faith and viewing the word through that how could we keep ourselves from plummeting towards the depths of despair. When we remember this weekend the 60th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki we need the eyes of faith to continue on. When we see the faces of starvation in Niger and the Sudan and other places of the world we need the eyes of faith to continue on. When we look at terror unleashed and the threat of terror to come we need the eyes of faith to continue on. When we face our individual pain and grief we need the eyes of faith to continue on. Even when we look at what it takes to be the church we need the eyes of faith to continue on. Again, the moment we take our eyes off Jesus as we walk through life we are lost.
Even as I say this, we know we aren't perfect…at least not yet. And so we know there will be times when we do look down and falter. In gymnastics you have a spotter-the person you trust when learning a new trick or routine to catch you when you stumble and fall. In the times when our faith falters we trust that Jesus will catch us-for can remember Peter's cry: "Lord, save me!" And know that just as Jesus reached out his hand and caught Peter, so he does for us. May we find ourselves like Peter-daring to step out on the promises and walk on water. And, when our steps falter, and in the times when we look down, daring to call out and know that Jesus will catch us and set us back on track. Knowing this may we then declare to the world: "Truly this is the Son of God!"