Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost August 9, 2026

Prayer of the Day
O God our defender, storms rage around and within us and cause us to be afraid. Rescue your people from despair, deliver your sons and daughters from fear, and preserve us in the faith of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord. Amen.

Gospel: Matthew 14:22-33
22 [Jesus] made the disciples get into a boat and go on ahead to the other side [of the Sea of Galilee,] while he dismissed the crowds.23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. 25 And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terriLied, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”
28 Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Sermon:
Here’s a question to think on and don’t worry you won’t be asked to turn to a neighbour and share….
                                           What life lesson has shaped you the most?

The Rev. Dr. Zina Jacque has asked this question over years of retreats at places like the Chautauqua Institute in New York. She discovered that in fewer than 5 percent of responses, the formative lesson was learned in easy or “good” times. Life Lessons nearly always come with a diploma from the school of Hard Knocks—or as a pastor of friend of mine calls it “The ol’ two by four shampoo”.

Lessons learned happen in those “fourth watch” times—times like a slave people make their daring “Passover escape” from Pharaoh’s Egypt. Times like predawn on the third day when the stone sealing Jesus’ grave was rolled aside.

For Jesus’ followers the life lesson happens in a boat—scholars point to key words Matthew uses to tell the story—the waves “torment” them— a word often used to describe tyrants tormenting subjugated people. The disciples give every once of physical strength, every shred of knowledge of the sea and every ounce of nerve they have. And the chaos wins. The disciples are defeated and in despair.

Then Jesus appears walking on the spine of the chaos monster—the sea, Matthew calls it, which brings to memory stories of Mot, Tiamot, Neptune; all beings that control the sea and mean harm to people.

Recall the Genesis story where God steps into chaos and harnesses it into creation, harmony and order; and then calls it Good, very Good. Jesus does what God does and announces himself in language God uses with Moses, “I AM”…Don’t let fear be the last word.

Peter’s response is part of the lesson maybe. Let’s just say his reaction is a mix of both faith and not faith…or as Richard Rohr likes to say, the opposite of faith isn’t doubt…it’s control. Peter risks a lot by jumping ship. He fabricates a proposition to test the teacher. For a second it looks like its working. Then Peter, the Rock, sinks…managing to gurgle out a “Lord save me” before he goes under. Jesus hauls him up and lands him gasping like a stunned mullet back into the boat.

Bear in mind that Matthew presents Peter as a stand-in for the disciples and the church….Peter says what the rest of us are thinking and does what the rest of us hesitate doing. So, church, what’s the lesson?

Hint here are two things the lesson is NOT. 1. Try harder. 2. Just keep your eye on Jesus. I doubt anybody would to all that trouble for such banal lessons.

There were two times I got in trouble with ICU nurses during my chaplaincy. My “caffeine saves button” from my rabbi friend offended someone so the spiritual care department instituted their “no Llair” policy. I still have that button and it has pride of place on my swag bag…briefcase. The other time I got in trouble was when a nurse opined that God never gives us more than we can handle. I said I wondered if that were true. Her reaction might have permanently blown my hair back.

To my relief, our bishop Carla Blakley reminds us that saying isn’t really in the Bible and the quote it’s based on is out of context anyway. Besides what if it were true? When you Linally hit the wall is that your fault? God’s fault?

The disciples get a near fatal dose of more than they can handle. And it’s here that Jesus shows up doing God—things.

Jesus gets a fatal dose of more than he can handle. On the Third Day, God does God-things. That’s the Good News-Gospel grounds for our praying the Prayer Jesus taught us. We echo those desperate words from the sea soaked Simon Peter, “Deliver us from evil”. amen.