Thoughts on Water-Walking…

I was thinking today about my Confirmation into the Episcopal Communion in 2010.  The reading that the Bishop gave during the service was Matthew 14:22-33, the episode of the Messiah walking on water.  I was struck at the time, and continue to be struck, by how very differently the Bishop and I read that passage.

To the Bishop, you see, the focus was on the following passage:

     ³² When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. ³³ And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Peter had doubted, the Messiah saved him and returned him to the boat.  “And that,”  said the Bishop, “is Christianity in a nutshell.  We are all in one boat together.”

I had a very different take-away message.  For me the, the focus of this episode is here:

     ²⁸ Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” ²⁹ He said, “Come.” So Peter got out      of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus.

Even though he failed (being human), even though he had only a “little faith”—the only one in the boat that had any faith at all, got out.