THE EYES FIXED ON JESUS

Mat 14:22-36

“It is I, do not be afraid,” these are Jesus' word in today’s gospel. Jesus says this to the Twelve when they give in to panic upon seeing Him walks on the water. It is the episode of the twelve in the boat on the agitated sea; the master is in the mountain praying, and then suddenly he appears walking on the water in the darkness. This is very terrifying. Though some of them where fishermen, they have never seen this. And Jesus ensures them; it is I, do not be afraid. Peter says: Lord, if it is you command me to come to you.

As Peter was walking on the water, he forgot to focus on Jesus, he focused on the wind and the waves and he started sinking because of fear. Fear cripples us. In today’s gospel the disciples are terrified of the storm, and Peter starts to sink because, instead of looking at Jesus, he focuses on the wind. He starts to sink when his attention is not on Jesus but on the strong wind. He looks down instead of looking up on God. This is also what happens to us when we less focus on Jesus and give more focus on our problems and difficulties.

The image of Peter gives us a lesson that we should not look down to the storm of our problems, but look up to God. The eyes need to be fixed only on Jesus without whom any endeavor sinks into nothingness. Do not look at difficulties, but let us focus on Jesus. Let us fix our eyes only on Jesus. It is true that the natural tendency is to be in control of what is happening in our lives, to take change of ourselves. But this gospel tells us not to focus on the difficulties, not to on the wind and the waves, but fix your attention, your heart and your will on Christ. Trust in the strength and power of his saving hand. He will not let you down. If he has called you to a certain work, to a certain way of being, to a greater level of faith, he will give you the graces need.