St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, Emmaus, PA
Reflections on The Season of Pentecost
The Tenth Sunday after Pentecost, August 9, 2020
By Rev. Jane Bender
Dear St. Margaret’s Family,
Our gospel reading this week from Matthew tells the very familiar story of Jesus’ miraculous walking on water.
This story of Jesus walking on the Sea of Galilee is preceded, as we remember from last week, by the narrative of the Feeding the 5,000-plus. Matthew states that on that evening the boat carrying the disciples was battered by the waves and far from the shore (where Jesus was trying to practice self-care by resting and praying). Jesus had no boat. And Jesus stayed put. He did not panic; he chose to be fully present in his space and time alone. But then He took action to join the disciples in their distress.
As Jesus walked on the water towards them, the disciples were all terrified as if seeing a ghost. But Peter recognized that it was Jesus and was so eager for Him that Peter jumped into the water to meet Him…..indeed, Peter was also walking on water while he was focused on Jesus. When he became distracted by the terrible storm, Peter began to sink. Jesus immediately took his hand and lifted him out of the water and onto the boat. When Jesus and Peter got into the boat, the storm immediately calmed.
What vulnerability Peter exhibited! What a risk he took to “take the plunge into the water to get closer to Jesus. But, Peter, like all of us, are limited in our time and space and in our faith. We fall, we make errors, and we sin. But, this story tells us that Jesus is there to lift us up and save us each and every time. This salvation is most certainly not based on our faith – it is based on God’s infinite, undying mercy, compassion and love.
As we are all too aware, we are living in vulnerable times as we continue into more weeks and months of the pandemic. There is an acute sense of vulnerability for our health and the health of our loved ones. And also for our livelihoods, jobs, paying the rent and many businesses facing economic disaster. This vulnerability is real and is an undercurrent of each day.
Knowing the God of “calming storms” is our salvation and our joy.
The words that Jesus spoke to them were: “Take heart; it is I; do not be afraid.”
We will do well to receive this encouragement from our God who loves us more than we can hope or imagine. Our society needs this hope – our world needs Good News – needs this very real hope. There IS Good News! The news of God who stills the storms and lifts us up.
Jesus says to us in our day, in our present vulnerabilities: “Take heart; it is I; do not be afraid!”
Please also see our Vestry News Updates post – please read and be assured that you all are in my heart of hearts for safety, hope and reliance on Our Lord in these present difficult circumstances.
God bless you and keep you in God’s loving embrace,
Jane+