Deacon Rick Homily
Niagara Falls, which is a combination of three falls and the border between the United States and Canada, is one of the most famous in the world. It was on a June day in 2012 when a two-inch steel cable was stretched across Niagara Falls, and more than one hundred thousand spectators (and millions more watching on television) came to watch Nik Wallenda walk across the Niagara Falls on that steel cable. His sponsors took all the precautions, including a support cable, so that Wallenda would have a safe walk across the falls. Now let us go back to June 30, 1859. A daredevil named The Great Blondin walked across the same falls on a Manila rope with no support cable. The rope sagged in the middle, which caused him to walk downhill and then uphill. Wallenda would only make one crossing, while Blondin crossed multiple times over two summers. Some of those crossings Blondin would spice up by riding a bicycle or pushing a wheelbarrow, and many more stunts to keep the people interested. But his most famous crossing was when he asked the ten thousand spectators if they believed that he could carry a man on his shoulders across Niagara Falls. The crowd agreed with their roar of approval. He then asked the crowd, “Who then will get up on my back?” Soundly all was quiet, for no one responded. So Blondin ordered his manager to climb up on his shoulders. His manager said after the crossing that the half-hour ride was an eternity of terror.
Have you ever found yourself in a situation like Peter and the other disciples, such as in today’s Gospel, when the winds of hardship are howling, the waves are crashing all around you, and you feel like you are sinking? Life has a way of throwing us into the middle of the sea, just like the disciples in today’s Gospel.
When we are overwhelmed by the storms of life, we often look for God, imploring Him to intervene. Yet, God frequently speaks to us in the quiet moments of prayer, through the comforting words of a friend, or in our meditating after we receive the Eucharist. This brings us to the Gospel, where Jesus walks on the water. The disciples are terrified, thinking it is a ghost. But Jesus calls out, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” But Peter wants proof. “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” And Jesus says, “Come.” So, Peter steps out of the boat and walks on water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was, he became frightened, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Why did Peter begin to sink? He sank because he took his eyes off Jesus and focused entirely on the storm. How often do we do the exact same thing? We start out strong in our faith, but as soon as something in our life goes wrong, we panic. We take our eyes off Jesus and try to solve the problem on our own. When Peter cried out, Jesus did not hesitate but immediately held out his hand to catch him.
No matter how far you have strayed or how deeply you feel you are sinking, Jesus’ hand is already reaching out to pull you to safety. He is the anchor in every storm. When the winds of life howl, let us fix our eyes on Him, trust in His presence, and let Him carry us through.