This passage from Matthew immediately follows the scene of last week’s gospel. Jesus has just fed 5,000 and more with just a few fish and loaves, and now He sends his disciples on before him across the water, so that He may have some alone time to pray.
As the night unfolds, his disciples are having a hard time; the wind and waves are up and they are being tossed about in the darkness.  Out of the darkness, Jesus comes to them.
They are so agitated and upset at their situation that they are almost hysterical thinking Jesus was a ghost!  In the midst of their agitation and fright, Jesus’ message is, “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!”

These words compelled Peter towards his Lord, “If it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”  And Jesus says, “Come!”  And Peter walks on the water, until. . . he doesn’t anymore.  “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”  And as the wind dies down and they get into the boat they all exclaim, “Truly you are the Son of God!”

Have you ever walked on water?  Before you answer that question, let me tell you a couple of stories.  This first story goes back to 1976, probably early July.  I was 25 years old, I had just been ordained a priest a few weeks before; we just had the biggest family party in the history of my extended family.  In one weekend was my ordination, first Mass and a reception after each; we had 450 at my family reception, almost all of them were family—as a matter of fact as things turned out, it was the last time all my elderly aunts and uncles would be with us. And through this whole weekend, I was the hero, the guest of honor.

Two weeks later in early July I began parish ministry at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in downtown Worcester.  I didn’t have much time to think, because it was a busy parish, and on top of everything, it was my job to cover a nearby hospital for 24 hours every week, while the chaplain there had some time off.  The first night I was doing that coverage, the phone rang; it was 3 AM, come to the Emergency room.  I had never done this before;  I wasn’t sure of anything—and besides that it was 3 AM—I was lucky to put my pants on frontwards.  So I go the ER, there’s a lady who needs anointing, she’s down the hall in the first room on the right.  OK.  So I call the lady’s name, and say OK Nellie, can you take my hand and we’ll pray together.  I think 5 minutes passed before I realized that Nellie had died before I got there.  Thank God no one else was in the room with me;  here I was trying to walk on water and sinking fast!  As you can see I never forgot that first sick call—but let me tell you, I didn’t sleep the rest of that night talking to the big guy!  (As you can see, I’ve never forgotten that sick call!)

Fast forward 40 years or so; my friend is diagnosed with dementia and I know its going to be up to me to be her caretaker.  Good thing for her, I had learned a little more about being with sick people over the years. Over the years, I got better at walking on water, and hearing the words of Jesus, “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid.” 

Now let me ask you again, “Have you ever walked on water?”  This gospel story is about being ready to do just that when life, when someone you love, needs you to do that.  And its in those moments that we can realize we are not alone.  We can hear the words of Jesus, just as the disciples heard them that night, “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid.”