PRAYING LIKE PETER
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
"Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.
But when he saw how strong the wind was, he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” (Mt. 14:22-33).
I know that some of you have considered or discussed who your favorite disciple might be. Some might argue that John was the one with the plan. He never contradicted Jesus, and some appreciate the title "The Beloved Disciple of Jesus." However, there's no scriptural evidence that Jesus referred to John as his "Beloved Disciple." When considering the other disciples, I'm unsure if Thomas would be a popular choice. He doubted that Jesus appeared to the disciples after the resurrection, wanting to see before he believed. Phillip might also not be a favorite due to his request for Jesus to show them the Father, believing that would suffice. After reviewing the gospels, who is left for me to emulate? Peter. Really? Yes, Peter is the disciple who remains; he is the one with a prayer recorded in the gospel.
In Matthew's gospel, some intriguing events are described. Notice how Matthew mentions that after feeding the people, he states, "Jesus made the disciples get into a boat and go ahead of him to the other side" (Mt. 14:22). What is absent in this account is the reason Jesus instructed the disciples to get into a boat. Considering Jesus' knowledge as the great meteorologist, aware that it would rain that night, one might expect him to warn the disciples about the impending storm. Interestingly, Jesus did not join them in the boat; instead, he went to the mountain to pray, not to rest.
Meanwhile, Matthew's account proceeds, describing how a storm arose, causing the boat to be rocked by strong winds. In the dead of night, as the winds tossed them around with little protection, I found it intriguing that at this juncture in the story, no one was praying. One would expect someone to start praying for the winds to subside or for the boat's safety in this perilous situation. And "When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear." Picture this: roaring winds, a boat swamped with water, and now you see Jesus, whom you mistake for a ghost. Still, no one has taken the initiative to pray.
However, after Jesus reassures them not to be afraid, Peter responds, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” Jesus replied, “Come.” At this moment, we can examine Peter's prayer. After taking a few tentative steps on the water and beginning to sink, he prays, "Lord, save me."
Despite its brevity, Peter's prayer reveals three important theological insights. Firstly, he acknowledges the Lord of his life, affirming that Jesus is neither a ghost nor merely human; he is both human and Divine. Secondly, Peter understands the Lord's unfailing capabilities. Lastly, it is a personal plea: Save me, Lord, resembling the song, "It's Me, it's Me, standing in the need of prayer!"
Therefore, I don't know who your favorite disciple is, but for right now, Peter is at the top of my list. I know I can put three words together and pray like Peter:
Lord Save Me!
Lord Help Me!
Lord Protect Me!
Lord Guide Me!
Lord Teach Me!
Lord Hold Me!
Lord Carry Me!
Lord Love Me!
Lord Heal Me!
Lord Watch Me!
Which three words of prayer speak to you today? Please share your words or add your own three-word prayer like Peter in the comment box.
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