Twelfth Pentecost, Proper 14, 2005

A mother was watching her four-year boy playing outside in a small plastic pool half filled with water.  He was happily walking back and forth across the pool, making big splashes.  Suddenly, he stopped, stepped out of the pool, and began to scoop water out of the pool with a pail.

The mother opened the kitchen window and asked, “Jimmy, why are you pouring the water out of your pool?”

“’Cause,” the boy said, “my Sunday school teacher said that Jesus walked on water, and this water won’t work!”

Or, you may have heard the one about the man who had passed out on the creek bank after a particularly rowdy Saturday night.  He was awakened by the sound of singing and a voice that said, “Brother, are you ready to find Jesus?”  He said he didn’t reckon it could hurt none.  The old preacher walked him out into the middle of the creek and shoved him down into the water.  In a bit he pulled him up and asked, “Brother, did you find Jesus?”  The fellow sputtered and spewed branch water from mouth and nose.  The preacher shoved him down again, holding him under a bit longer this time.  “Brother, have you found Jesus?”  The fellow sputtered and wiped his eyes on his sleeve.  Again, the preacher forced him under and held him a good long time.  Finally, he drew the man out of the water and again asked, “Brother, have you found Jesus?”  The man sputtered and spewed and twisted himself free from the preacher’s grasp.  He said, “Are you sure this is where he went down?”

It is very often the case that four-year olds have faith not always found in grownups.  I suspect God created us to be people of great faith and somewhere along the way life has beaten it out of us.  Perhaps one of the purposes of the Christian journey is to recapture that deep faith that allows us to believe we can walk on water or that we can at least find Jesus.

We live in a culture pretty much based on the model of sickness.  Most commercials and infomercials have as their aim helping us deal with not feeling well.  We watch hoping to see the magic pill or the perfect piece of exercise equipment that will undo what age, gravity, or personal choices have brought about.  Advertising is geared to sell the latest gimmick that will make life more bearable.  Self-help professions are not exempt from all this.  Psychiatrists, psychologists, and counselors of varying shades, hues, and disciplines are quick with advice about how to handle the stresses and strains of living in a post-modern, technological age.  Relationships can be helped if we just remember that men are from Mars and women are from Venus.  I did see a bumper sticker that attempted to answer this notion.  It said, “Men are from earth, women are from earth…deal with it!”

Some few years back a psychologist gave some advice about what to do if one finds oneself in a no-win situation, facing insurmountable odds, and deplete of resources.  This man listed three things a person might remember when in such a situation:

1.     Do what you can to solve the problem.

2.     Remember that this difficulty will not last forever.

3.     Keep a stiff upper lip.

Now, I don’t doubt that this fellow meant well.  From his perspective he was giving good advice.  The problem is that it doesn’t always work very well.  Nor is it good theology about what a Christian ought to think about or do when life come crashing in and the wind goes out of the sails.

Today’s Gospel gives good advice about what we can do when life throws lemons in our direction or when, no matter how carefully we step, we are knee-deep in it. 

The first thing to notice is that in the darkness and the storm Jesus comes and stands ready to serve.  Secondly, Jesus stands ready to prove who he is and his first words are always, “Take heart, have no fear, it is I.”  Thirdly, he bids us walk to him through our doubts and fears and not after we have them in a neat little cubby hole.

The disciples are far out at sea when the wind and the waves begin to beat about.  They had handled storms before.  These fellows were good sailors, good fishermen.  Maybe this was the “perfect storm,” the one that they couldn’t handle.  They had fought it all night.  The rabbi came to them in the storm.  Good old Peter yelled out, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 

Jesus, just like always when one of his followers asks, said, “Come.”  In faith and obedience Peter steps out of the rocking boat and walked toward his teacher. 

Now, it is important for the deepest theological understanding of this story to know that Jesus is not the only person to ever walk on water.  Peter did!  At least he did for a step or two.  As long as he had his eyes of faith on the one who had bid him come, he got along fine, thank you very much.  But, the waves started to lap around his ankles and the cold mist blew in his face, and he look down and said to himself, “What in the world am I doing?  The very idea!  Walking on water?”  And he took his eyes off the only one who could guarantee safe passage and Peter began to sink.

I confess to you that the times I have found myself sinking have been those when I have gotten too far ahead or lagged too far behind the Lord.  My eyes on self or selfish things; compromising with the world, flying by the seat of my pants have always led to times of being in over my head. 

Notice what Jesus does not say: “Peter, do what you can in this situation.  Remember Peter, this will pass; it won’t last forever.  Keep a stiff upper lip, Peter!” 

No, Peter knew enough to yell out in his doubt and fear, “Lord, save me!”  As he always does, Jesus put forth his hand and drew Peter up out of the water, drew him to himself, patted him dry with a towel, hugged him close, and said, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Come to think of it, why do any of us?  Has the Lord of this life and the life that is to come not shown us over and over that he came to save?  Just so we will be reminded again, he comes to us in the bread and wine of the Eucharist.  We step in the boat as the children of a loving God and join with angels, archangels, the host of heaven and countless confessing Christians around the world.  “Truly you are the Son of God.”  The wine, bread, and water he gives us always works!  Amen.