Jesus Pulled Peter Up: 9 August, 2020
Matthew 14:22-33
This story . . . begins with Jesus’ dismissal of the many who ate bread and fish, beginning with the disciples who were sent out on the boat for the other side. Still seeking solitude (cf. 14:13), Jesus went up the mountain alone to pray; the narrator repeats that he was still there alone when evening came.
Two forces came down the mountain toward the disciples in the boat: first the wind, and they battled it fiercely as they had done many times before. But when they saw a man walking through that storm toward them, they were convinced they were really in trouble. Was this phantom coming to take them to the next world?
Only Matthew has part two. Peter was at once doubtful and confident: “If it is you,” he said, “command me to come to you on the water” the way he commanded the crowds to sit on the grass and eat the miraculous feast (same word in 14:19). Jesus did not chastise him for the test, but invited him to come, and so Peter did . . .
Perfect fear drives out faith, but not entirely: Peter cried out for salvation and Jesus’ hand found him.–– Paul Koptak
1 Kings 19:9-18
When we allow ourselves to get . . . really quiet, we open ourselves up to hearing the truth . . . about our current situation, about our futures, about our relationships and our addictions. When we get quiet, we hear the voice of truth in our head, God’s voice, telling us what we know but sometimes do not want to hear: that we need to change our jobs. . . renew our relationships. . . forgive a friend. . . address the difficulties at work head-on. . . have courage, and love, and grace.
There is good news in that silence, too. In the first place, God is in the silence! We do not have to go hunting for God. . . All we need to do is still ourselves. Calm our breathing. And listen. And in the silence we will not only hear the truth about what we are doing, we will also hear what is even more important—the truth about our being. That we are beloved. Called. Forgiven. Gifted. Accompanied. Precious beyond words. –– Daphne Burt
Romans 10:5-15
Paul draws from Hebrew scripture to support his claim that “Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes”. . . Paul quotes Moses from Leviticus 18:5. . . then draws from Deuteronomy 30:11–14 to show that the “righteousness that comes by faith” neither brings Christ down from heaven nor up from the grave. Those works belong to God, but the word is near enough to be believed and confessed. . .
The righteousness of faith is for everyone, Paul says three times: he quotes Isaiah 28:16 in verse 11, affirms one Lord of Jew and Greek in verse 12, and quotes Joel 2:32 in verse 13. . . . But how can people call if they haven’t believed, or, for that matter, believe if they haven’t heard, or hear if no one proclaims? –– Paul Koptak
Paul E. Koptak is professor of communication and biblical interpretation at North Park Theological Seminary, Chicago, Illinois.
Daphne L. Burt, an ELCA pastor, has served in church and college settings as pastor or chaplain in Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Virginia, Illinois, North and South Carolina, and Tennessee. She has a Dmin from the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago.
Homily Service 41, no. 3 (2008): 145-154.