NOTES for Mat 14:22-36
Everyone knows well that if we have faith, we will be able to move mountains. The question, however, is why move a mountain from the place the Creator assigned to it. Peter's action, when he goes to the Teacher on the water, should undoubtedly be defined as a feat of faith. Each of us, being no different from Peter by nature, can try this on ourselves. Here I step out of the boat and walk on the water...
Far more important is that, in old-fashioned language, this is also a feat of wisdom. The fact is that there are not so few believing people in the world, yet we still continue to build bridges and cross water barriers by using them. It is not at all apparent that Christians are crossing rivers over the waters in crowds, although our history does know such examples. The wisdom of Peter, which is exceptionally important for us, consists in his saying: "command me to come to You on the water". He goes not only, and not so much, because he believes. This would have been impossible if Jesus had not commanded him. Strictly speaking, in everything that happens in our life, with all the abundance of miracles that we fail to notice, there is only one Miracle Worker: the Lord. Without His command, by Peter's will alone, this would have been impossible.
And one more important point: where Peter is going, where he is looking. As long as his gaze is turned toward Jesus, he walks; as soon as he looks around, he begins to sink. This is by no means a metaphor. To live and not sink in the passing moment, in matter, and ultimately in death, one can do only by looking at Jesus, and at Jesus alone.