The feeding of the multitudes was just the first part of diptich. Mark who wrote the original account followed it up with the revelation of Jesus as the "I AM" when he walked on the sea. In rewriting this episode, Matthew laid stress on the meaning of the account for his own community. He inserts an episode involving Peter so that his community of faith may see themselves in him and learn how to say "Lord save me!" Read the following articles to help you understand Matthew 14:22-33.
Use the following materials to help you meditate on the theme of the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)
1. The struggles of the disciples against the winds and the waves is a "type" of the struggles the Church undergoes in history which, like the waters of the Sea of Galilee, threaten to overturn it.
- Reflect:
- In recent times, you've seen the Church buffetted about by different "problems". Can you enumerate some of these? What about your own community of faith -- what kind of problems did it have to face recently? What problems does it have now?
2. Jesus is Lord of the waters and Lord of human history. He walks majestically over it. "He came to them", writes Matthew, indicating that Jesus' movement on the waters towards the disciples was intentional. The story's subsequent development would show that Jesus came and brought peace and tranquility over the sea and air and made it possible for the disciples to continue towards their destination.
- Reflect:
- In Matthew 28, the Lord promised his disciples: "I will be with you always". It is a promise that holds even now, seeing that he has deigned to be with His Church in the sacramental form of bread. The Lord is in the boat. As you look at your own life and that of your community of faith, can you see the signs of the Lord's presence?
3. "Let me walk on the waters" Everyone would like to exercise some mastery over their lives. After all, that is what being free means. But even the proper exercise of one's freedom is a gift from the Lord, a power that he grants to those who asks. Peter asked for it and it was granted him. "Come", said Jesus.
- Reflect.
- Peter is like any other Christian who wants to have some measure of control over some aspects of his/her life. Examine your own lilfe: which areas seem to escape your planning and your every effort to organize? (e.g. the health of a dear one?) How does the experience of Peter shed light on your own experience of life's uncontrollable and sometimes frightening aspects?
