“Take heart, it’s me!”

Matthew 14:22–33

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

From this Gospel passage, we see that faith means believing in and trusting Jesus through all life’s difficulties.

During his comings and goings on the Sea of Galilee, Jesus surely took advantage of the moments to teach His disciples how to face even more dangerous storms in the future.

Here, Jesus reenacts one of these episodes to help Christian communities overcome their fears and lack of faith.

This passage’s symbolism is particularly fitting for Jesus’ teachings. The situation of the boat is desperate. The darkness of the night, the force of the wind and waves, and the imminent danger of sinking evoke a scene of chaos and uncertainty. Through the biblical language of creation, which reminds us that God has power over chaos, the early Christian communities found reason to renew their hope and strengthen their trust in Jesus.

In this symbolic setting, Peter takes center stage as the man Jesus chose to guide His church to safety. Peter is Jesus’ great miracle, through whom Jesus tells us all, “Do not be afraid; it is I.” The Gospels recount other moments of trial in which Jesus was present to strengthen our faith.

Let us recall the night in Gethsemane as recounted by Saint Mark (14:32–42) and the events that transpired that night.

Jesus is horrified, utterly terrified and desolate. He feels a sadness as deep as death. He falls to the ground as if He has collapsed. He does not want the death that awaits Him, its cause, or how it will come about.

While Jesus utters His heart-wrenching prayer, Peter, James, and John are asleep. No one is with Him. He has no one to turn to.

Overwhelmed by this devastating pain, Jesus turns to God with great candor and familiarity. He does not want what is about to happen to Him, nor does He want to oppose His Father’s plan of salvation.

Added to this agony is Judas’s betrayal. Once Jesus is arrested, all the disciples flee and abandon Him (Mk 14:43–52).

Jesus stood before the Jewish authorities, who sought to inflict the worst possible death on Him by any means necessary. Peter, the spokesman and foremost disciple, denied Him in the most cowardly way.

This is the Jesus of our faith who did not allow Peter to sink into the stormy sea of his betrayal. After His resurrection, Jesus asks Peter three times in a row: “Peter, do you love me?” Peter replies through his tears: “Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus entrusted His flock, His church, to Peter: “Feed my lambs. Tend my sheep” (Jn 21:17).

The risen Jesus invites us to follow Him, telling us: “Do not be afraid. I have overcome the world” (Jn 21:14–18). In the midst of our fears and doubts about our faith, Jesus is present to tell us, “Take courage, it is I!”