Take Heart!

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”

Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. After the people of that place recognized him, they sent word throughout the region and brought all who were sick to him, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed. Matthew 14:22-36 

This afternoon, I will be preaching at the service deconsecrating Episcopal Divinity School's St. John's Chapel. My seminary has become part of Union Seminary in New York City and the campus in Cambridge, MA is being sold. I am sad about this, and afraid of what it signals for many. There will be no place to go back to, or to gather and encourage one another. Being in seminary was a challenging three years for me, yet looking back, those turbulent days equipped me for all the challenges that were to come in my life. That experience gave me courage to step out in faith, into the unknown, into sinking boats, and onto troubled waters.

Jesus terrifies his disciples by coming to them on the water. Several are seasoned watermen, who are fearless in the face of wind and waves. They've seen it all. Yet this moment was not something they ever wanted to face. They were sinking and leaderless, and all seemed lost. Yet Jesus comes to them with challenge and comfort, in the teeth of the storm. He quiets everything and everyone down, giving them the courage to face the storms to come. He calls to us today, "take heart!"

Today I ask God to help me face the day ahead with strength and courage despite all the grief and loss we are facing. May we take heart and know that Jesus is with us, in the teeth of this storm, and will be with us in every tossing boat and every turbulent sea.