Please read the passage indicated before the homily.
Jesus had just fed the five thousand men, not counting the women and the children. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all recount this episode. Matthew has placed the multiplication of the loaves right after his account of Herod’s birthday banquet in which Herod had had John beheaded. In Herod we have the banquet if death. In the multiplication of the loaves, we have the banquet of life. In the walking on the water we have the presence of the Lord Jesus even when he seems to be absent.
The disciples had taken an active part in the multiplication of the loaves; in the boat on the water theirs is a more passive role, that of receiving. in the multiplication of the loaves, Jesus nourished the people. In the calming of the waters, Jesus showed himself as savior.The Lord thundered over the mighty waters in Psalm 129The Lord thundered over the mighty waters in Psalm 129The Lord thundered over the mighty waters in Psalm 129
When the disciples were frightened at the sight of Jesus walking on the waters, they were terrified. Jesus calmed them, saying, “It is I!” In Hebrew it would have been understood that Jesus had said, “I am”. This would be a reference to Moses at the burning bush. Jesus, the Great I Am, is leading his disciples over the water to the other side, similar to the way the God the Great I AM! lead his people through the Red Sea into the Promised land.
The Lord thundered over the mighty waters in Psalm 29. The disciples acknowledged the presence of God in Jesus as they acclaim Jesus as the Son of God.
God is here to save us when he provides food for our refreshment. God is also present when he seems to be standing of the shore or calmly walking of the waters of our storms seeming to be ignoring us. We need not fear that God’s gifts and protections will ever fail us. God is the Great Amen and Jesus is the faithful servant and Son of God. “Take courage, then, it is I, do not be afraid,”
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