1 Kgs. 19:9a, 11-13a; Ps 85:9-14; Rom. 9:1-5; Mt. 14:22-33

Take courage!  Recall the sketch of the man hanging from a branch off a cliff calling out to God for help.  The voice he hears says “let go”.  He responds “Is anyone else up there?”  Life is not about letting go recklessly, it is about trusting God faithfully. 

People of faith take courage in the middle of the storms of life God invites us to step out and “walk on the water” of faith.  Pope John Paul II is famous for calling on us to “be not afraid”.  Fear is very disabling and opens the imagination to create unfounded fears that begin with “what if”.  This is when we should say, “get away from me Satan!”  He loves to play on our fears and create doubt that God is with us.  God says, take courage, I am with you. 

Be actively still!  How, isn’t this a contradiction?  The actively still person has the movement of faith being actively attentive with a still heart to the whispering sound of God.  Peter was able to take courage because he heard the voice of Jesus say “come”.  That is all it took for him to have faith and walk on water.  The Lord will also direct us if we can be actively still listening for his voice. 

When Peter saw Jesus walking on water, it gave him hope and courage.   Jesus descended coming into our world to be that visible sign of God to strengthen our faith in all that is possible for those who trust in him.  He teaches us how to live and how to die to self.  Once we see with the eyes of faith all things are possible. 

Years ago, while attending a conference, part of the evening activities was a “fire walk” and a “glass walk”.  To see someone walk on hot coals and on a bed of glass made others also believe and do it.  I was one of those who was willing to step out in faith and do the walk, after saying a prayer.  The purpose of the activity was to recognize how fear is very limiting to what is possible.  God comes to say “take courage” I am with you through the fires of life.  We should not be foolish and tempt God but we should not be afraid to do the right thing. 

Take courage by being actively attentive to the voice of God who directs our ways through the heavy winds, the storms, and the fire of life as he calms our hearts and lets us see his kindness and grants us salvation.  God’s walk in not a “fire walk” or a “glass walk” but a “justice walk”.  He tells us, “Justice shall walk before him, and prepare the way of his steps”.  His justice was the way of the cross so take courage when we are called to carry our cross and unite it to his justice walk.  Recall the song, “They will know we are Christians by our love”.  Yes, they will know is we truly walk the walk of love and justice or hold onto the boat that sinks in fear.