i August 6, 1993
The Message Monthly
-- for Catholics of Southwestern Indiana
9
IIII
Commentary --
A walk on the sea: A test for Peter
Gospel Commentary for Sun-
day, Aug. 8, 1993, Nineteenth
Sunday, Ordinary Time, Cycle
A: Matthew 14:22-33.
By FATHER
DONALD DILGER
COLUMNIST
The miracle of feeding thou-
sands of people has just heen
completed. Jesus orders the Apos-
tles to gather the leftovers. This
being completed, he orders them
to get into a boat and cross to the
other side of the Sea of Galilee.
He stays behind to dismiss the
crowd. Then he goes up into the
hills to communicate privately
with his Father in prayer. In the
meantime the disciples were al-
ready far out to sea as darkness fell. They were
fighting a strong west wind and high waves• At
3 a.m. Jesus comes to them walking on the
water. The frightened disciples think it is a
spirit of some kind. Jesus comforts them with
the words: "Courage! I AM! Do not be afraid!"
Thus goes the story in Matthew, in Mark, and in
John, with minor differences. Luke omits this
one.
Why was this story preserved and included in
three gospels? Wc noted last week how the story
of Jesus feeding the five thousand in the wilder-
ness was a recasting of the story of Yahweh
feeding the Israelites through Moses in the
wihterness of Sinai. Oht Testament influence is
at work in the gospels when they connect Jesus'
miracle of feeding the people with the disciples
crossing tim sea. In the Old Testament Yahweh
not only fed the people, he also brought about
their safe crossing of the Sea. Jesus does the
saule in our New rI'esta[ll(llt Ht ,
is cast in the role of Yahweh nt
only providing food but also
safety from (hmgerous waters.
Both storie.s were intended as a
lesson for the Church. Christians
considered themselves either as
the continuation of Israel or as
the new Israel. As God cared for
his ancient people, so God-Jesus
continued to care for his people.
From earliest times the boat in
which the disciples crossed the
sea was considered a symbol of
the Church. Already in the 60s of
the first century Christians had
suffered persecution. The stormy
sea represented that persecution. The story of
Jesus walking on the water assured Christians
that just as Yahweh is frequently said to be in
control of a raging sea, so Jesus would gain con-
trol of the persecutors and peace would return.
This point of Jesus as Yahweh is made all the
more clear at the end when he says to the disci-
ples: "Courage! I AM," for that is what Yahweh
calls himsdf in the Greek Old Testament.
As noted above, this story is found in three
gospels. Now Matthew adds another story found
nowhere else, the story of Peter walking on the
water, or at least attempting to do so• This is one
of the three traditions about Peter found only in
Matthew. Matthew writes for the Churcll at Anti-
och, a major Christian community where Peter
seems to have worked his ministry for sometime.
The two other traditions about Peter contained
only in Matthew are these: the promise of the
keys of the kingdom to Peter and the strange leg-
end abcmt Jesus ordering Peter t) ,.:arch a fish in
the mouth of tlm fish he would find the corr,:ct
amount of money to pay the tern )!e tax for him-
s;lt and f)r lesus.
:\\;s our story of Jesus walking on the water and
his assurauce to Ill(; disciples ends. in Matthew
the ever-irrepressible Peter says: "I,ord, if it is
you, order me to come across the water to you."
Jesus says: "Just do it!" Peter steps out of the boat
into the water, gets cold feet and begins to sink.
He shouts a plea for help: "Lord, save me!" Jesus
reaches out, takes his hand, and says: "Why did
you doubt, O man of little faith?"
Whether or not this story is history is of no
concern to us. It was put into the gospel to teach
something other than history. Peter is clearly the
head of the Apostles in all the gospels. As all
four gospels later show him denying even know-
ing Jesus, so Matthew wants to depict him as
being weak in faith. This picture of Peter enaMes
Christians of all time, weak in faith as we are,to
identify with Peter. If the man Jesus chose to be
Shepherd in his place was weak in faith, how
much more should we be consoled if we contin-
uously go from faith to doubt to faith to doubt.
With Peter and with all generations of Christians
we cry out: "Lord, save me!" This prayer is al-
ways a renewal of faith. It is this prayer that
causes Jesus to reach out, to touch, to reassure
that he is present even when we feel most aban-
doned.
Other readings: I Kings 19:9, 11-13; Romans
9:1.5.
Gospel commentaries: Excerpts for the weeks ahead
The gospel commentaries are regular features
the Message. Following are excerpts from the
ahead.
Aug. 15, Assumption of Mary {replacing
tieth Sunday, Ordinary Timel, Cycle A:
1:39-56, The Assumption of Mary: Basis in
e Plus XII] uses mainly two texts from
first one is the greeting of the angel to
r: "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you."
second text used by Plus: "Blessed are you
women." These are the words of Mary's
Elizabeth as she greets Mary entering her
The pope teachers that this fullness of grace
bestowed on Mary was achieved completely only
bY her assumption.
Aug. 22, Twenty-first Sunday, Ordinary
Time, Cycle A: Matthew 16:13-20. Simon Peter's
profession of faith: .4 new name, a new function.
Jesus now asks: "But who do you say that I
am?" Simon Peter, the usual spokesperson for the
disciples in all four gospels, answers: "You are
the Messiah, the Son of the living God."
•.. Jesus returns the compliment.
.., Simon is given a new name that describes
his func tie rt for the people of God. Jesus names
him "Peter," i.e., "Petros," the masculinized form
of the Greek feminine word for "rock."
Aug. 29, Twenty
Time. Cycle A: Matthew 1t1:21-27. A
messiah: Taking up the cross.
•.. Peter seems to understand the term Mes-
siah" [as] a powerful military-religious-political
leader.
•.. Matthew now places the first Passion pre-
diction of Jesus as a corrective,
and establish his kingdom
politics but through suffering. A strPmgo ide a ha?
deed. Peter must have thought ....
Support your local pro-life organizations
MILLER & MILLER
"A family name you
can trust"
424-9274
I
EVANSVILLE SERVICE
AND SHOPPING GUIDE
II I
00!t3 ",
Four
ZIEMER-SHEARS
Convenient Locations EAST CHAPEL
800 S. HEBRON AVE=
DO'W-N-T.O WN
:IO1 MAIN ST, • VINCENNES. IN 47591
iiii i i i ii i i:
i FOR THE BEST amvm :':
PLUMBING SERVICE
lr, llIBIr
RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL
Sales & Service
TV & 2-Way FM
484 S. GOVERNOR AT CANAL 1916 W. FRANKUN STREET
! PHONE (8121423-7849
i
Carpet Cleaning Herman Goebel
Motor Co.
ICE MASTER NEW OR USED CARS
Where the best deals are made
For Free Estimates Trade up or dOWn
Call 428-0900 Bank R,a,c
2001 W Delaware 423-7759
00sville Wet Heat M & S
& Piping Co. Inc. Fire & Safety
* s us 8o, l,,s. rur.ac.s Equip. Co. I nc.
Repair & t::teDlacement Over z5 ,,/eas saes and
800 F Oregon $etvce m Ihe T r,.slalO
670 E. Frankhn 4211-3863 TuesdaY -- May thr u October 9 a.m, -5 p.m, I
._I J UlL3 " : : . "
