The Ninth Sunday After Pentecost (1 Cor. 3:9–17; Mt. 14:22–34)

The holy Apostle Peter, with the Lord’s permission, steps out of the boat and walks on the water; then he yields to a movement of fear and begins to sink. His decision to attempt such an extraordinary thing, trusting in the Lord, contains nothing blameworthy—for otherwise the Lord would not have permitted it. What is blameworthy is that he did not maintain his original interior state. He had been filled with inspired trust in the Lord—trust that He can do all things—and this gave him the boldness to commit himself to the waves. He had already taken several steps along this new path; he needed only to stand more firmly in his trust, looking to the Lord who was near, and to the experience of walking by His power. Instead, he gave way to human reasoning: “the wind is strong, the waves are great, the water is not firm”—and this shook and weakened in him the strength of faith and trust. Severed for this reason from the Lord’s hand, and left subject to the laws of nature, he began to sink. The Lord rebuked him: ”You of little faith! Why did you doubt?” (Mt. 14:31), showing that this was the entire cause of his misfortune. Here is a lesson for all who undertake anything—great or small—with a view to pleasing the Lord! Preserve the original disposition of faith and trust, from which is born the great virtue of perseverance in doing good—the foundation of a God-pleasing life. As long as these dispositions are preserved, the enthusiasm for labor on the chosen path does not depart, and obstacles, however great, go unnoticed. But when they weaken, human reasonings about human methods of preserving life and managing the work at hand immediately flood the soul. And since these latter always prove inadequate, fear enters the soul—what is to be done? — and with it, wavering about whether to continue; and at last a complete turning back. The right way is this: once you have begun—hold on; drive away troubling thoughts and be bold in the Lord, Who is near.