Sunday Homily - August 9, 2020 - Where are you looking?

 

Christ walks upon the Water Icon

The Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

1 Kings 19:9-18

Psalm 85:8-13

Romans 10:5-15

Matthew 14:22-33

I.

Isn't it amazing how heavily our lives are influenced

 by where you look with your eyes?

And no, it is not just what we watch on T.V.,

 or what news station is our default,

  or what books we read.

   It really is also about where we look with our eyes

    in normal everyday life!

For you who have kids,

 how often have you had to remind them

  to look where they are going?

   If you play tag with them,

    you really do have to remind them,

     "Okay, DON'T look behind you to see if I'm chasing you,

      because you will run into something and break your face."

       I say this as someone who had much experience in this area,

        and my face-bruises I wore proudly in my childhood tell the story.

If you drive around town,

 or if you just got your drivers license,

  what's one of the first things you are taught?

   LOOK where you want to go. 

    Don't get distracted by that Dunkin' Donuts we just passed, 

     keep your eyes on the road where you want to go!

      And yes, experienced drivers, the same goes for us.

       Because trust me, where you look with your eyes

        is where that 3000 lb. piece of machinery you are driving

         will end up going.

But even deeper than that,

 in conversation with people, 

  do you look at them in the eyes?

   Do you have people in your life that make it hard to talk to

    because they won't look you in the eyes

     and you can't tell if they are really paying attention to you?

Even the intention behind where we put our eyes

 deeply forms and influences us.

  Do you know anyone 

   who seems like the only thing they look for in life

    is the bad stuff?

     The ones who constantly cast their eyes in the direction of 

      negativity,

       contempt,

        disdain,

         and only look at the things in life

          or on the internet,

           that are chock full of those things?

Your gaze directly influences your life

 and directly affects others with your choices.

But your gaze also betrays something else:

 it shows others where your priorities are. 

What you look at,

 where you put your eyes,

  where you give your attention

   will show people what you think is important in life

    and WHO you think is important enough to pay attention to.

II.

God knows how important it is to get straight

 who we set our eyes upon

  and who we look to for our life and our salvation.

And if there is ever an account in Scripture about the importance of where we look,

 it is in today's Gospel passage.

This is the account where Jesus walks upon the windy waters.

The disciples are definitely not expecting to see Jesus

 as we wouldn't expect to see anyone walking upon the surface of the water. 

  Normal people just don't do that!

But, within the amazing sight of Jesus's command over the created world,

 there is a vital exchange between Jesus and St. Peter.

You see, Peter actually asks Jesus to let him come out on the water to him.

 But notice with me what St. Peter says first:

  "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water."

Lord, IF it is you.

 Even at that point, it seems that there is a bit of doubt in Peter's own mind. 

  And even when Jesus invites Peter, "Come,"

   I wonder if that doubt remained as Peter slowly reaches out his foot

    and tries to stand on the surface of the water

     like a toddler trying to gain their balance.

Peter did it!

 And he walked toward Jesus and began to get closer and closer.

But where did Peter's eyes take him?

 Where did he set his sight upon,

  even when the Son of God was right in front of him?

He noticed the strong wind.

 He saw the precarious nature,

  and, in all honesty, the incredible danger that he had just put himself in.

He saw all of the factors around him,

 all of the swirling forces that betray the paralyzing fear

  that began to take over Peter's life at that moment.

   And the fear began to sink Peter.

The feet that stood on the waters

 all of a sudden

  sank into that same water.

   The wind that howled around him

    blew him off balance.

     The only thing Peter could do was cry to Jesus for help.

And Jesus immediately caught Peter,

 as soon as Peter cried.

  With a gentle but firm word,

    Jesus says, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"

But the story doesn't end there!

 Jesus also walked with Peter BACK to safety in the boat.

  I wonder what that walk back to the boat was like for Peter.

   

We know what it was like when Jesus got back into the boat,

 as the wind ceased and the disciples worshiped Jesus,

  the truly incarnate Son of God.

But that walk back with Peter to the boat.

 I wonder if Peter ever took his eyes off of Jesus for that entire time.

Just like a young child buries their face in their parent's shoulder when things are scary,

 I wonder if Peter had a similar reaction.

We won't know this side of eternity,

 but when we meet St. Peter one day,

  undoubtedly he will give us the same advice

   that the old hymn gives us:

    "turn your eyes upon Jesus."

III.

Have you set your gaze on Jesus, friends?

Because if your eyes wander,

 you will be tossed and turned and perhaps drowned

  by all of the swirling winds and waves

   that vie for your attention.

Your news websites and news channels want you to feel like you are sinking,

 because guess what?

  Negative press sells!

   Instead, have you fixed your gaze upon Jesus and trusted in his good grace to save you?

COVID-19 has devastated friends, families, and loved ones,

 with more than 162,000+ people who have died from it that we know of.

  It is a real threat and one of the most deadly pandemics in a century,

   and at the moment there is no physical cure for it. 

    But, friends, even though we see and know the dangers,

     have you called out to Jesus to save you?

      Have you cried out for God to come and lift you up?

       

Have your relationships in your family or friends

 been strained or broken,

  and have you been feeling caught in the depths of sadness or depression?

   Have you imagined what it would be like for you in the arms of Jesus,

    after falling in the water, 

     after not having enough faith,

      after not keeping our eyes on God,

       and yet Jesus is still with you anyway?

As hard as it is some days, friends,

 practice, as much as you can,

  to look to Jesus in everything you do. 

Practice daily prayer with Jesus,

 and keep in constant relationship with the God who loves you.

  Tell him of your troubles and your fears,

   and let him strengthen your faith.

Read your Bible daily,

 don't go a day without hearing from the Word of the Lord,

  and don't skip out on the word that God would have you hear each day of your life. 

There are real dangers in the world that are scary and deadly,

 just like the wind and the waters around Peter when he began to sink.

But in the midst of those dangers stands Our Lord Jesus Christ,

 beckoning us to come to him,

  and lifting us up when we fall.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.