Holding on

‘…Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’ (Matthew 14:27)

Matthew 14:22-33 (Year A: Trinity+8)

If you ever find yourself on a ‘High Speed’ sailing across the Irish Sea as I was some years ago and the waves are high and furious you don’t have time to think about getting sick – you are already too frightened!. A condition worse than sea sickness! (coincidentally it was a Sunday and the reading for the day was Matthew 14:22-33).

The call to be not afraid, to trust and to stand trustingly in the presence of Another who gives us assurance and strength in the middle of the storms of life. Often, fears of the known, fears of the unknown, unknown fears of the unknown (or known) can cripple, hold back, disrupt our journey.

We need to go forward (or back as the case may require). We can’t stand where we are. Neither can we stand on a stone forever in the river of life. At some point we must swim across.  But, we fear drowning or being swept downstream. Perhaps someone will come and show us the way across? We can find that we must make that first step – like Peter – in trust. We might fear for a moment of slipping and sinking but immediately Jesus reaches out his arm and holds us. (‘Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him’ Matt 14:31)…. And He comes to walk across the water with us.

Storms will arise and abate. Some may last many years. What matters is our response – in trust – to a bigger picture, a longer journey and a more fruitful outcome.  Did Jesus allow matters to be this way to put his disciples ‘to the test’? I think not. God – who created all in love – does not work this way so much as to intervene when the forces of nature or human weakness and faith are at play. He is much nearer than we could ever imagine or think. But we must be ready to lose our fears, call out and …

He will come walking on the waters to us.

A Personal Psalm

What need have I to worry or care

Jesus stands by my side

All shall be well and all manners of things shall be well

So I leave my past with God

All things done and undone to his mercy

What do I care

And so I leave my future to God

All that is to be or not to be

What do I care

Christ today, yesterday and tomorrow

Christ in each one that I meet and in each one that meets me

All that I pray for ..

Health of soul, mind and body

For myself and my others

And if these should fail

What do I care

God’s love will see me through it all

And the night will be as clear as the day.