A HOMILY FOR THE NINTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
About the Lessons the Day’s Gospel Teaches Regarding the Spiritual Life
Brothers and sisters!
Today we heard the Gospel reading telling about the Saviour’s prayer in solitude on the mountain; about how the Lord commanded the apostles to take their ship to the other side of the Lake of Gennesaret; about how the disciples’ boat was tossed by the waves and wind; about how Jesus traversed the sea as though it were dry land; about how the apostles were terrified when they saw Christ walking on the water; about how the Lord bade the disciples take courage; about how Peter boldly entreated the Lord to permit him to come to Him; about how the chief Apostle was able to walk on the water, but sank when his faith failed; about how the Lord stretched out His hand to Peter, rescuing him, but also upbraiding him for doubting; about how Christ suddenly calmed the wind; and about how everyone in the ship confessed the Son of Man as the Son of God. Truly, this lection is most instructive, because the disciples (especially Peter), not yet transformed by grace, were in many ways very much like you and me. The reading is most instructive, because it addresses a number of themes central to our spiritual life.
The first lesson this Gospel reading teaches, dear Christians, is the importance of private prayer. Our Lord Jesus Christ, God and man, prayed frequently in seclusion, thereby providing us an example in this as in all other things. When alone, a man can fully and wholeheartedly surrender himself to God, because no one and nothing interferes, except the demons, when the Lord permits this to teach us to struggle with our thoughts. To pray while others in the same room are busy with worldly matters is exceedingly difficult. One can pray after a fashion while others are making a hubbub, but only the spiritually advanced can do so with attention, persistence, and contrition. For the rest of us, it is extremely important that there be in our homes an icon corner behind closed doors, so that we can seclude ourselves for prayer even if others are in the house.
A second lesson today’s Gospel teaches us is to be courageous when difficult circumstances arise in life – when we face illnesses, dangers, temptations, or other misfortunes – in the certainty that God is always near. The apostles were in an extremely perilous situation in the middle of the sea, but the Lord came to their rescue, walking on the waves. Mistaking Jesus for a phantom, a ghost, they cried out in terror, but when they heard the Master’s beloved voice calling, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid, they took courage. Newly and, it must be said, only partially converted to faith in Christ, and still unperfected, the disciples represent you and me; the wind and waves stand for the devil’s snares, our own passions, and life’s tribulations; while the boat is an image of our weak, sinful flesh, in which our soul and spirit sail the sea of life. The enemy of our salvation is ever ready to sink the vessel of our flesh in the abyss of passions, as all of us know from experience. Like sailors or fishermen who must sooner or later face the wrath of storms, so we are inevitably tossed by tempests: we are brought near to drowning by the impulses of a troubled heart; by confused, sinful thoughts and feelings; and by feebleness of will. We shrink from every petty threat or difficulty, and are thrown into turmoil even by minor unpleasantnesses or hardships: by the merest hint of demonic assault. This is because our faith in Jesus Christ is weak, because we do not truly abide in Him, and He therefore does not abide in us. He who believes in Christ with his whole heart and is inseparably united to Him overcomes every fear, every demon, every temptation, while he cannot be overcome or even intimidated. “The Lord is my light and my Saviour,” chants the prophet David; “of whom then shall I fear? The Lord is the defender of my life; of whom then shall I be afraid? When the wicked demons and my own passions and spiritual infirmities – they that afflict me and are mine enemies – draw nigh against me to eat my flesh, they themselves became weak and they fell. Though a host should array itself against me, my heart shall not be afraid; though war should rise up against me, in God have I hoped.”[1] Such is the well-founded boast of the man who cleaves to God!
Next the Gospel tells about Peter’s bold plea – to walk on water – and about how Christ God agreed, enabling him to traverse the waves until his faith faltered, after which he began to sink. On the one hand, Peter’s request showed his ardor for the Saviour; on the other, the request was foolish and presumptuous, because we ought not ask for things too wondrous or lofty, especially if they are unnecessary. Peter wanted miraculous powers when his faith and love for the Lord were in their infancy. The seed of the word had sprung up in his soul, but the time had not come for harvest. Nonetheless, for the Apostle’s ultimate benefit and our instruction, God granted his desire. Given Peter’s spiritual level at that time, it was almost inevitable that he would immediately exalt himself in his thoughts over the other disciples, who dared not ask for anything similar. In view of the Apostle’s pride, God removed His hand, doubt overcame Peter, and he began to sink. Something similar happens to us when we exalt ourselves in our thoughts: we begin to waver, then surrender to doubt. God withdraws His support, and we learn how helpless we are without Him. For example, it is easy to pray when humility and a penitent spirit are coupled with perfect trust in the Lord and repose in His will: our hearts delight ineffably and we sense that our entreaties are heard. But no sooner does doubt become lodged in our mind than prayer is snuffed out, the soul is drowned, the spirit is quenched. Therefore, dear Christians, it is essential to set a watch over one’s thoughts, constantly humbling them and drawing them back to repentance. This is the way strong, humble, unquestioning, unwavering faith – the faith that leads to salvation – is cultivated. Otherwise, we the foolish and irresolute drown in doubt and inconstancy: the inevitable result of failure to repent and to struggle to amend oneself.
What Peter did next provides an excellent example of how we ought to respond when pride, doubt, or some other sin threatens us with sinking into the abyss. The Apostle immediately humbled himself before God and exclaimed, Lord, save me, at which Christ stretched forth His hand, caught him, and replied, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? Realizing our plight, like Peter we too should desperately cry in repentance, “Lord save me! Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!” for God never permits the humble and penitent to perish, but at once extends a helping hand, as countless Christians, repentant sinners, have experienced for twenty centuries and will continue to experience until the Last Day. “Who cometh to Thee weeping,” chants the Church of Christ, “and is not saved at once? Who crieth to Thee fervently and is not straightway heard? Therefore, O Master, grant salvation to all who pray to Thee, for nothing can prevail over Thy mercy.”
Reproaching Peter for lack of faith, the Lord made it clear that the numerous trials and temptations we undergo are precisely the result of our lack of faith, so similar to Peter’s. If we believed and trusted in Christ wholeheartedly, we would easily cross over the water and reach His embrace. Instead, we sink every day and hour in the abyss of sin and drown in anger, envy, self-gratification, love of money, lack of concern for others, carnal sins, and other weaknesses of various sorts. This is why we must correct our errant thoughts and turn to God in repentance many times daily, crying with Peter, “Lord save me; I perish!
As soon as the Lord Jesus entered the ship, the wind and waves became calm. Likewise, when we fervently call upon Jesus Christ and He enters the vessel of our heart, all turmoil ceases and indescribable peace fills our whole being. What blessedness the Christian soul experiences then! This is the peace about which the Saviour said, Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.[2] And so, beloved Christians, if you wish to enjoy this uniquely blessed peace, to your entreaties in God’s holy temple add daily prayer in seclusion at home; be courageous in the face of every misfortune, trial, and temptation; and do not admit proud, doubting, blasphemous, or other sinful thoughts. And if you realize that, due to your inattentiveness, pride, or lack of faith, such thoughts as these have inserted themselves into your mind, turn at once in supplication to Him Who can still the tempest of your thoughts – however errant – as easily as He calmed the tempest on the Lake of Gennesaret long ago. Ame
[1] Ps. 26:1-3
[2] John 14:27
