Matthew 14:22-36

Matthew 14:22-36

Jesus made the disciples get into a boat

and precede him to the other side of the sea,

while he dismissed the crowds.

After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.

When it was evening he was there alone.

Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore,

was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it.

During the fourth watch of the night,

he came toward them, walking on the sea.

When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified.

“It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear.

At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”

Peter said to him in reply,

“Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”

He said, “Come.”

Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.

But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened;

and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him,

and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

After they got into the boat, the wind died down.

Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying,

“Truly, you are the Son of God.”

After making the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret.

When the men of that place recognized him,

they sent word to all the surrounding country.

People brought to him all those who were sick

and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak,

and as many as touched it were healed.

Opening Prayer: Lord God, I need to be healed. I need the power of your grace to overcome evil in my life. Without you, I can do nothing of lasting value. Help me to learn that lesson each day, so that I may bear fruit for your kingdom in the world.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Jesus Prayed: After the miracle of the multiplication of the five loaves and two fish for the five thousand, Jesus made his disciples cross the Sea of Galilee. Jesus didn’t want his disciples getting prideful and basking in the glory of having fed the crowds in a miraculous way. And so, he took care of dismissing the crowds and afterward went up on the mountain to pray. Jesus was a man of deep prayer. The Gospels frequently refer to the times he spent in prayer, such as at his baptism, in the desert during temptation, before choosing his apostles, and before and after performing miracles. Before dawn, during the fourth watch of the night (3:00-6:00 AM), Jesus walked upon the sea toward his disciples as they struggled to get the boat to shore. 

2. I AM: At first, Jesus’ disciples thought that they were seeing a ghost. Jesus addressed their fear and commanded them, “Take courage, it is I.” This could also be translated, “Take courage, I AM.” By walking on the water and using the divine name, “I AM,” for himself, Jesus manifested his divine nature and invited his disciples to make an act of faith in his divinity. Peter responds with a partial act of faith, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” Peter is hesitant and somewhat unsure, but trusts for a time that he can walk upon the water. This faith lasts until he takes his eyes off Jesus and begins to fear the power of the wind, waves, and sea. The scene ends with not just Peter, but with all of the disciples in the boat worshipping Jesus, and saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God.”

3. Healings in Gennesaret: The disciples and Jesus landed at Gennesaret, a town midway between Capernaum and Magdala. Once again, the crowds did not allow Jesus and his disciples to have any time to themselves. What Jesus was teaching his disciples through his actions was that they need to die to themselves to serve the people. True love demands self-giving and overcomes selfishness. True love focuses on the good that other people need and how we can help them attain that good. The crowds needed the healing that only Jesus could provide. The physical healings that came about by touching the tassel on Jesus’ cloak point to something greater in the age of the Church – spiritual healing from sin and the promise of resurrection from the dead. The tassels Jesus wore on his cloak symbolized the fidelity of an Israelite to the Law of Moses. The old law has been brought to fulfillment and perfection in the New Law, which is the grace of the Holy Spirit. Thus, we symbolically touch the tassels of Jesus’ cloak when, through the sacraments of the Church, we are healed and strengthened by divine grace.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, teach me to be a person of deep prayer. Guide my thoughts and my heart as I enter into communion with you and the Father. Pour the Love of the Holy Spirit into my soul so that I may ask for good things from my Father in heaven.

Living the Word of God: How can I make time each day for quiet, personal prayer so that my relationship with Jesus becomes the source of all that I do? What “winds and waves” are causing me to take my eyes off Jesus, and how can I renew my trust that he is present and saying to me, “Take courage, I AM”? Where do I need Christ’s healing most today, and how can I open myself more fully to the grace he offers through the sacraments and acts of loving service?