Meditation on Matthew 14:22-33
First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown
Pastor Karen Crawford
Aug. 13, 2023
It is good to be back leading worship with you. I can’t put into words how strange it feels on Sunday morning when I am NOT with you.
My vacation began with a celebration of my birthday with my two granddaughters in Cambridge, MA. The following day, my mom and I left from Boston Harbor on the ship Zaandam for a 7-day cruise. We had beautiful weather, traveling up the New England Coast to Canada, stopping in Portland, Maine and Bar Harbor; Saint John, New Brunswick; Halifax, Nova Scotia; and Sydney on Cape Breton Island. I enjoyed being on the ship, walking the promenade deck, taking in the ocean breezes, watching beautiful sunsets and the water that went on for miles and miles, when we were out at sea, with no land in sight. It was nice to take time and just rest and breathe, be in the moment, enjoy the scenery. We all need that! Amen?
Sydney was probably my favorite destination. Our guide was willing to tell the whole story of his community—not sugarcoat it for the tourists, if you know what I mean. A bus took us to economically struggling areas, as well as more well-to-do and polished tourist spots. We went to the Mi’kmaq Nation’s reservation, saw from the tourbus windows its museums, parks, hotels, and casino, and heard how the indigenous people haven’t been treated fairly by the Europeans but the province is trying to do better.
The sweetest part of that trip for me was when we stopped at a former Jewish synagogue that has become the Whitney Pier Historical Society’s Museum. The Whitney Pier region is the district adjacent to the former coal mines and a steel mill that was one of the world’s largest steel mills in the 20th century. The plant that played an important role in the Allied war effort in WWII fell on hard times and closed in 1968. Reopened and operated by the government after overwhelming public protest, it closed permanently in 2001. Cleaning up the former steel plant and the toxic Sydney Tar Ponds it left behind were a source of controversy due to its health effects on residents. After the clean-up was finished in 2013, the community built Open Hearth Park on the former steel plant site. The tour guide motioned to it with a nod and a wave as the bus roared by.
At the historical society museum, I went through old-fashioned scrap books with curling photographs and yellowed newspaper articles. Some family histories were written by schoolchildren. One memorable display told the story of Carl “Campy” Crawford of Whitney Pier. Campy became the first black municipal police officer east of Montreal when he joined the Sydney Police Servicein 1964. When he died in 2003, the force established an award in his honor for officers who demonstrate “leadership and commitment to justice, fairness, volunteerism, sportsmanship and equality in their community.” In 2021, a road that was built across the former coke ovens site as part of the $400-million tar ponds cleanup was renamed “Crawford Crossing” for Campy.
I got to talking with one of the historical society ladies, and I lost my mom. I found her in the museum’s basement and joined her in eating Scottish oatcakes. The ladies joked with us that they didn’t make them, but they gave us a recipe in case we wanted to! Anyone ever made Scottish oatcakes? I have to ask Margaret Cowie.(She said no. But she does make Scottish porridge every day.)
Today, Sydney is home to a diverse population, with many languages and cultures represented. It continues to be a place of refuge for people emigrating from all over the world. Ukrainians have come recently, sponsored by a local Ukrainian church.
Faith is important to many of the residents. I lost count of the number of houses of worship that we passed along the way.
The tour guide said that most people who live on Cape Breton Island cannot afford to buy homes. Young people continue to leave the area searching for better jobs and more opportunities. They rarely return.
The island’s saving grace, perhaps, has become tourism. Political leaders saw this coming, and the Sydney Harbor Channel was dredged for cruise ships in April 2012. Since then, tourism has greatly expanded as people come to shop, eat, and listen to live music at the foot of the world’s largest fiddle, take walking and driving tours, visit the Alexander Bell and other museums and lighthouses, hike the Cabot Trail, and play golf on courses with breathtaking views of mountains, cliffs, and beaches. I’d like to go back someday with Jim and stay at a hotel or bed and breakfast.
The tour guide, a retired teacher and son of a coal miner, used the word “resilient” when he talked about the people who stay, despite the difficulties. Resilient, he said, with a little catch in his voice. I keep remembering the way the people treated us—in the shops where they sold handmade clothing, bags, hats, scarves, and jewelry; walking on the town’s streets; touring historic churches and other buildings. They sincerely, warmly welcomed us.
Back on the ship, I heard one person say, “Some of these places may not be exciting to visit, but you can tell they are nice places to live.”
And I thought, “What a wonderful testimony to the strength, faith, and yes, resilience of a people!” Despite their disappointments and losses, they are kind, cheerful, and welcoming to outsiders. They treated us like we were Jesus walking toward them, on the sea, coming to them in their time of need.
The disciples don’t recognize Jesus, at first, when he comes to them on the water. They aren’t expecting him and certainly aren’t expecting him to come the way that he comes! Jesus is the one who urged them to sail without him, so that he could go to the mountain for some time alone to pray. This is the first time in Matthew that Jesus is recorded praying. Is this a call to the Church to pray for strength for the ministry journey ahead? I think so.
They had had a long day of ministry—teaching healing and yes, feeding a multitude with a little bit of food. Jesus was the one who ultimately dismissed the crowds—told them to go home—so that he and his disciples could recover and rest. They needed time to breathe and prepare for new ministry. But a storm comes while Jesus is on the mountain. Wind and waves batter the disciples’ little sailboat and carry it far from land. They are separated from Jesus and don’t know how to get back to him. They are afraid.
So, when the form came to them in the stormy, watery darkness, they do what other people might do in their situation—they think they are seeing a ghost! Doesn’t it help us to see just how ordinary the disciples are? Not so different from you and me.
This miracle of walking on water is an opportunity for Jesus to reveal that he is not just a human being, like us. He is also divine. This is how God saves the world—through God’s only Son. Notice that Christ reveals his divinity—his ability to walk on water—only to his disciples, and only when they are away from the crowds. And notice that he shows his divinity through this miraculous rescue when they are together and yes, in their time of need. He always comes in our time of need. We are stronger together! And, dear friends, Christ is here with us now.
This is assurance of Christ’s everlasting presence with the Church, and for our need to pray and seek him who wishes to be found. The first thing the Lord does is address their emotional state. Our Lord cares about us, dear friends! “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid,” he says.
Our Lord invites us to enter into ministry with him—to do miracles we couldn’t possibly do on our own. All we need is a tiny bit of faith-like Peter! And we can be like Jesus, walking toward people caught in the waves of a turbulent sea and help them in their time of need.
See how Peter starts his answer to Christ’s assurance of his identity. “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He isn’t convinced that the ghostly figure on the water is Jesus!
Christ says to all of us now, “Come.” His hand is outstretched to us, to step out in faith, despite the swirling waters around us. Come to grow the Kingdom and be transformed, more and more. Don’t be afraid to do things you wouldn’t normally think of doing, things you aren’t sure you know how to do or will be successful doing, in your own strength! I am sure Peter didn’t wake up that morning and say to himself, “Gee, I think I should walk on the sea with Jesus today.” But when he saw him on the water, he was willing to go and meet him there! Keep your heart open and your eyes fixed on Jesus.
I have heard many a message that criticizes Peter for what happens after he steps out of the boat. But I think that’s a misunderstanding. You see, we are supposed to imagine ourselves in the same situation—taking a step of faith, then experiencing the strong force of the wind, and then starting to sink into doubt and fear. This is what you and I would do in the same situation! This is what we do! And that doesn’t make the Lord love us any less. And it doesn’t stop the Lord from helping us in our time of need, when we say with Peter, “Lord, save me!”
This is what Jesus does for Peter and for you and for me. He immediately reaches out his hand and catches us, saying, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” I imagine him smiling as he says these words. He is pleased that we want to be closer to him. We are stirred by this knowledge of his love and desire for us to worship and serve and follow more closely. Every day, we have new challenges. Yes, we do. And every morning, new mercies. Praise God! All we need is a wee bit of faith, like Peter. With the Spirit’s help, we can be RESILIENT.
We can weather difficulties as individuals and as a gathered church of Jesus Christ. Because of the One who is fully human and fully God. The One who died and was risen to set us free to live abundantly!
So, let go of your fear and reach out to clasp the extended hand of Your Savior. The one who is truly the Son of God.
Let us pray.
Holy One, Risen Savior, Son of God, save us now! We are walking in turbulent waters with you. We have never done this before. We are afraid of sinking and drowning. Help us to reach out to you and accept your extended hand. Stir us to cling to you and the faith you have given us so that we may grow your Kingdom and be transformed, more and more. Grant us grace and peace as we journey together. Lead us to help others in their time of need. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit we pray. Amen.
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