The WORD in other words (2018) by Father Edgar Bugtong SVD (Taiwan)
Tuesday 18th Week in Ordinary Time
Peter said: “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” Jesus replied: “Come!” (Matthew 14:28–29). Peter walked on the water as if on solid ground. Truly, this was a miracle. But why did he later begin to sink?
The Gospel tells us: “When he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’” (Matthew 14:30). The wind was already strong before Peter stepped out of the boat, yet he walked on the water. What changed was not the wind, but Peter’s heart.
Two things explain his sinking: fear and loss of focus.l
Fear can sometimes be helpful—it activates our inner strength to escape danger, like fleeing from fire. But fear can also paralyze, suppressing the very energies we need to survive. Peter’s fear shifted his gaze from Jesus to the storm, and he began to sink.
Equally devastating is loss of focus. At first, Peter fixed his eyes on Jesus, the miracle worker, healer, and Lord of nature. But when he turned his attention to the wind and waves, his faith faltered. Jesus rebuked him: “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31).
This is our story too. Losing focus on Jesus has happened to us before, and it can happen again. Distractions, anxieties, and storms of life often divert our gaze from the Lord.
Jesus invites us to trust Him, to keep our eyes fixed on Him despite disturbances around us. “Let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1–2).
Faith is not the absence of storms, but the decision to keep our focus on Christ in the midst of them.
“Lord, when fear rises and storms surround me, help me to keep my eyes on You. Strengthen my faith, calm my heart, and remind me that You are always reaching out Your hand to save me.”
