Jesus Boots

Many years ago I read of an invention called Jesus Boots.

There was a picture of a guy walking across a nice calm pool.

He had huge floating styrofoam-like blocks on his feet.

And for balance, he had two long ski poles.

Each stuck into another floating block.

He wasn’t actually walking on water—

He was piloting a Styrofoam flotilla.

Today, a quick Google search shows the technology hasn’t advanced.

It’s probably safe to say that we’d all be pretty impressed

If we saw someone truly walking on water.

Maybe other miracles should be more impressive to us.

Miracles that might seem to accomplish something of greater value.

Like raising the dead, or healing the sick.

Or stopping a storm.

So, why are we so impressed with walking on water?

Maybe it’s because stepping into water 
Is something we’ve all experienced.

We all have repeated, first hand, experience

Of stepping right through that surface.

We know that we can’t walk on the water.

And we know that no one else can either.

It’s completely against the laws of nature.

On the other hand, we’ve heard that sometimes

Blind people do regain their sight.

Deaf people have been known to regain their hearing.

People do recover from illnesses.

People thought to be dead can be revived.

And every storm comes to an end sooner or later.

But under no circumstances do people ever

Walk on the water of a stormy sea.

So we should indeed be especially impressed that Jesus walked on water.

The disciples were especially impressed.

They’d seen many miracles before, but this one led them to say—

Truly you are the Son of God.

Perhaps it’s that divine nature that lets him overcome our laws of nature.

But that’s not what Jesus tells us.

He says the power to perform miracles comes from faith.

We don’t have to be divine to walk on water.

We just need faith in the divine.

A deep, deep faith that God is with us.

Peter walked a few steps, until his faith gave out.

And when it did, Jesus quickly rescued him,

But he also criticized him for his little faith and his doubt.

At other times too, Jesus criticized the disciples for their little faith.

He said that faith the size of a mustard seed could move mountains.

And still, none of us have ever walked on water.

Or moved a mountain.

We do have faith.

But we also have doubts.

Each of us is still a work in progress.

As is the whole human race.

So for now, perhaps the best we can do is stick with an exercise program.

Work to build up our faith.

Pray, listen, try to do what we’re called to do.

Maybe test the waters now and then to see how we’re doing.

And take consolation in Jesus’ assurance.

Every time we begin to sink in doubt—
He'll be right there to rescue us.

Tuesday 18th Week of Ordinary Time

Mt 14:22-36   Read this Scripture @usccb.org