Chrism

22 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.

23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.

24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.

25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.

26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.

27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”

28 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”

29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.

30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”

31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

(Matthew 14:22-31)

God still allows every believer to enter the boat midst the waves so he would rally the truth of his existence inside him. The Lord’s power is so overwhelming, for he is able to calm down the outer and inner waves. He grants us awesome peace by declaring his divine presence in us.

Jesus tells Peter to come walk to him on the water. Peter walked out but was a little afraid, for his heart was not entirely pure, because he carried some lead (sin) inside it. That is why the Lord told him “oh you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

He who is saved, is saved as if with fire, even if there is any lead in him, it is melted as in a furnace. Sin is like a stone or lead that sinks in the deep waters to the very bottom. But as for virtue which is light, it floats on the water. By Jesus Christ, we have the ability to walk with him, and in him, on the water without drowning.

The mystery in our drowning is not the outer waves, but rather losing of the hearts peace and its faith. The Lord did not calm down the waves so that Peter would walk on the water, but instead he pacified the inner waves of his heart, so in faith he would walk on the waves, and would not drown.

– From an excerpt from the Gospel of Matthew by Father Tadros Malaty