August 6 "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"

Dearest e-votees,

What do you do with Jesus' question to Peter in the appointed gospel lesson for this Sunday "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"?  What tone do you imagine in Jesus' voice--compassion? anger? scolding? _________ (other)?  It is an interesting thought experiment as to what feelings and tones you would layer into Jesus' voice were you making a video of this scene.

Peace,

Karl

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Water was an ominous and primordial threat back in ancient times (maybe it still is based on the popularity of "Deadliest Catch", "Shark Week", "River Monsters", etc., etc.).  The waters were mysterious and treacherous and had who knows what lurking beneath the surface.  Peter as a fisherman would be well-acquainted with the dangers--both real and legendary--of the turbulent waters.

The sea of Galilee is known for strong squalls.  Relatively shallow waters and strong winds combine to make some life-threatening storms.  Matthew 8:23-27 gets at this primal fear.  The twelve disciples (four of home were professional fishing partners) are terrified that they are going to drown.  Meanwhile Jesus naps in the back of the boat.  Does he know something they(we) don't?

I have wandered around in cemeteries looking at the tombstones.  There are two that I have never forgotten.  One was a Scrabble board where the family has spelled out things like "brother", "loveab[]e" (love the use of a blank), "fiance", etc., etc.  (you can see it at https://www.themarysue.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/scrabbletombstone.jpg).  The other was a picture of a pair of hands sticking up out of the water communicating how that one had lost their life.  Peter was thinking of one of those tombstones while out on the water that day and it wasn't the one with Scrabble tiles.

Peter doubted because he knew the dangers of the sea.  Peter doubted because his speak-first-think-later ways had put him in a hazardous spot (probably not for the first time).  Peter doubted because he probably still wasn't sure if this was Jesus as opposed to some sea creature or spirit taking the form of Jesus.  Peter doubted because he is human and wasn't ready to meet his maker yet (though in truth that is just what he was doing).

We learn to be fearful and to question and to look askance and to doubt in order to survive.  Hesitate too long in the face of danger and you just might find yourself in the belly of a beast or in the belly of the sea.  We have evolved to make snap judgments as a matter of survival.  Jesus surely knew this.  Was he really surprised that Peter was having second thoughts while toed-up to the brink of his mortality?

Even the "You of little faith..." is puzzling.  Jesus says that if you have faith the side of a mustard seed you can tell a mountain to uproot itself and fall into the sea.

I have to wonder if what Jesus said wasn't just for Peter but for those overhearing--the disciples.  And for those still overhearing (overreading?)--us disciples.

There are things that will scare us--awful things and awe-ful things.  And one of them just might be the end of us.  But we need not doubt.  God has us by the hand.  God knows us and loves us.  God has saved us and will save us.  May our faith grow and our doubts be overwhelmed by the love and grace of God.

Lord, it is us you.  Bid us to come to you.  Keep us secure.  Amen.