NOTES for Mat 14:22-34

In today’s passage about walking on the water, there are words that most directly allow us to feel that we are God’s children. They are words that resound within us each time we face the most difficult moments of our lives: “...It is I; do not be afraid.” The world is frightening. When we look around, we understand how frightening, cruel, and bloody it is. But just as a child who has been put to bed and imagines terrifying monsters in the darkness of the room is calmed as soon as the child sees the mother looking in, so we too, hearing these words, find within ourselves the strength to step out of our boat into the raging sea. This allows us to learn to rise above the animal fear for our own life and the lives of those dear to us, clinging to only one fear—the fear of grieving God. And there is one more thing we must understand as we reflect on these words. Our breakthrough to God is always accomplished alone. Just as Peter stood up, left his friends in the boat, and went alone across the waves to meet Christ, so we attain true communion with God only by closing the door of our room behind us and remaining alone with God.