Step Out of the Boat

Peter is my hero.

Yes, he started to have doubts when he saw the wind, but walking on water? At least in my opinion, he was willing to step out, and do as Jesus did – even though it didn’t last long.

As a child, I wasn’t brought up in any one religion; my parents are Catholic and Jewish respectively. They felt that their religious upbringing had been pushed on them growing up, and desired my sister and I to have the freedom to choose for ourselves.

I have always believed in God, but I was alone in my belief, and like Peter who began doubting once he encountered[the wind] his own fears; I would always sink into my dark murky pool of, “it can’t be true.” I had no knowledge of Jesus, who is the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. **

Faith is a personal act – the free response of the human person to the initiative of God who reveals himself. But faith is not an isolated act. No one can believe alone, just as no one can live alone. You have not given yourself faith as you have not given yourself life. The believer has received faith from others and should hand it on to others. Our love for Jesus and our neighbor impels us to speak to each other about our faith. Each believer is thus a link in the great chain of believers. I cannot believe without being carried by the faith of others, and by my faith I help support others in the faith. CCC,166

I don’t necessarily ‘see’ my faith, but if I look around at the other believers God has placed in my life, I can see where the seeds of my faith were planted. It may have started out as a bunch of crazy Catholic women praying the Divine Office, while camping and singing at the top of their lungs to the Lord. Maybe it was attending Mass and only being able to observe as other believers went up for Communion. Whatever it was; a thirst was nurtured in me to receive the Lord.

Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.

St. Augustine

*Matthew 14:25-31 **Hebrews 12:2

image, public domain