"Taking Risks"                Cicero United Methodist Church                      Jack Keating

August 10, 2008              Matthew 14:22-33               Pentecost 13

There are two different levels to the story in today's Gospel reading...

--- the level at which we see Jesus as the stiller of the storm; as the one who brings peace to those who sail through life in the boat called the church -

--- and the level in which we see Jesus as the one who offers power; as the one who calls to his disciples - to those who are willing to step out of the safety of the boat - "come to me" - and then supports them when they do so.

And it's this second level of the story that I'd like to think about today - the level at which we see Jesus as the giver of power to those who, as a part of his church - are willing to take a chance.

Think with me, if you would, about this whole episode of Peter and his trip out on the open water. Think with me about how he was willing to risk all that he had on the word of his master.

We hear in the Gospel story that the disciples have been commanded by Jesus to take a boat and go before him to the other side of the Sea of Galilee while Jesus stays behind to dismiss the crowds that had gathered to listen to him.

By evening Jesus is alone - praying - and the disciples were far from shore, being battered by the wind and the waves. They struggle almost all night against the storm that is crashing down against them, and they struggle successfully, until near dawn they see what they think is a ghost - they see someone or something - walking across the water towards them - and they are terrified and given the understandable circumstances, they cry out in fear.

Immediately Jesus, for it is he who is walking on the water, responds to the disciple's fear with the words - "Take heart, it is I, do not be afraid."

And Peter answers Jesus first saying:

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

And Jesus answers by saying "Come". And Peter climbs out over the side of the boat and puts his feet upon the water, and begins to walk toward Jesus.

Now some people dismiss the miracles recorded in the Bible as simply tall tales. They claim that the stories of healing and of resurrection and of walking on water are just symbols for other things.

I don't agree with these people at all - I don't agree that these things never happened because I know that miracles do occur, that people do get healed, that the dead are raised; and that many marvelous, unexplainable things occur when people call on the name of Jesus.

Even so - most of the miracle stories in the Bible are symbolic in that they teach things about life and about faith even as they tells us about the marvelous things that Jesus and his disciples did.

And the story of Peter walking on the water toward Jesus is one of these.

It shows us what can happen when we respond to the call of Jesus, it shows us how we can triumph over the forces of chaos and meaninglessness, it shows US how, when we take a chance on the word of Jesus, his power lifts us up and allows us to weather the storms of life and do something new.

Think about it now - Peter did not need to get out of the boat. He did not need to venture forth on those stormy waters. He could have simply stayed where he was and waited for the Lord to come to him. He could have sheltered himself in the safety of the boat with the knowledge that everything would be okay now that the Lord was coming to him and the other disciples.

But he did not. Instead Peter took a chance. He asked the Lord to bid him to come to him. He asked the Lord for the power to meet him in the middle of the sea.

Here is courage indeed - the courage to venture forth into danger and do what the Lord has said can be done; the courage to risk taking a step that does not really need to be taken, simply because the Lord tells him it can be taken.

Most people suffer from a lack of boldness, a lack of courage, and it will probably not surprise you that even Christians suffer in the way.

Given the choice between continuing in a situation where, despite the burdens and the dangers all around us, there is a reasonable degree of safety OR venturing out into a new and unknown situation, where the dangers seem even greater and where there is no apparent safety net, most people will elect to stay put - to stay where they are.

Thus it is that women will stay in a home where they and their children are being abused rather than walk out and try to find a new life.

Thus it is that men and women will work for years in a job that is slowly destroying their health and happiness - rather than risk their homes and their security by returning to school and starting their own businesses.

Thus it is that teenagers will not speak to someone who they are attracted to because they are afraid of botching up - afraid of being laughed at and rejected.

Thus it is that people who have had dreams about traveling around the world or of doing something else very special will stay where they are and allow their dreams to wither and die.

What have we been afraid to do?

What have we postponed because we dreaded the possible consequences? Who have we avoided because we did not know what to say to them?

Where have we refused to go because we feared what might happen there? What goal have we hid from because we felt inadequate?

What dream have we let wither and die?

Sometimes we need to get out of the safety of the boat. We need to say to the Lord, "Lord, if it is you - bid me to come to you."

I'm not saying here today that we need to take a wild chance on the first thing that comes along - but I am saying - if you have a dream - or if you are in a situation where wholeness and happiness are elusive - and you hear the master calling to you to take a chance - if you see that you can do something to help someone else - or simply feel that God is calling you to change something in your life that seems unchangeable - risk it.

Those of you that are or have been married - you know that the marriage represented a choice - the choice to either elect a new kind of life, a life together in which you sought wholeness OR to stay in your old lives - to stay apart - with the old ways still dominating you.

My marriage - like the marriage of most people - was a risk, a risk we did not have to take - but we chose it - we chose it with prayer that God will do something wonderful for us ­and indeed for others - through it.

Sometimes your faith ought to get you in trouble, says Pastor Charles Swindoll. If everybody thinks you're nuts, you may be. It's OK if some think you are. In fact, you're probably in a whole lot of trouble if no one thinks you are!

Peter - though he did not need to - in the absolute sense of the word need - got out of the boat -and - at the calling of the Lord - walked on the sea!

And he did well - his faith held him up - the power of Christ held him up, and he

continued to do well until he forgot about that power that had called him, he did well until he starting focusing on the danger he was in, till he looked at the strong wind and the waves - and became afraid.

Then he began to sink.

When we take a risk - when we venture out on the bidding of the Lord to do something new or simply to fulfill what we believe our calling is - it is very important that we remember to stay focused on our goal - to trust that God will see us through despite what is happening all around us.

A helicopter pilot, who flew from an aircraft carrier in the Pacific, told this story:

"I was flying the helicopter back to the ship when a blinding fog rolled in. Flying at a low altitude, I knew that single mistake would plunge me and my crew into the ocean. Worse yet, I was experiencing a complete loss of balance - which is common for pilots flying by instruments. The loss of balance - known as vertigo - was so bad that despite the instrument readings I was certain I was flying on my side. For 15 minutes I flew the helicopter only by its instruments, fighting the urge to turn it according to my feeling. When we finally broke through the fog, I was deeply thankful I had been trained to rely on my instruments rather than on my feelings."

That is what people who live by faith do - they remember that feelings can be misleading, but the truths of God's word are reliable, trustworthy, and consistent.

When we believe and act on these truths, we eventually break through the fog and experience the fulfillment of divine promise.

Peter - when he is overcome by fear, when he starts to walk according to his feelings instead of by the instruments of faith - begins to sink. His risk looks like it has failed ­but, as our story shows - it does not fail

Peter sinks - but as he sinks Peter remembers from whence his help comes - but he cries out - "Lord! Save me!"

And Jesus reaches out his hand and catches him.

That is what the Lord does when we risk as well; it is what he does when he bids us to come to him over the dangerous waters.

When we step out, when we take the risk to come closer to God, and then falter ... the hand of Jesus reaches out to us and lifts us up. All we have to do is remember - and focus on him once again.

Jesus says to Peter after reaching out to save him, he says, and I think he says it ever so gently, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"

When we take a risk for the Lord, when we dare to do what is right, when we decide to go the extra mile - a mile that we need not walk - but which Jesus tells us we can walk - he is near to us to help us.

We do not need to doubt the outcome. We do not need to fear the adversity we will encounter along the way.

All we need to do is keep focused on Jesus, to look where our help comes from. All we need to do is ask for the help we need and trust that it will come.

Like Peter who stepped off the boat and walked onto the water towards the Lord who had called him - we too can step out, and we really ought to step out, to respond to the Lord who bids us come to him.

When we do power flows, when we do marvelous things happen, when we do we discover new things about ourselves and our world.

We can risk, because we have a powerful Lord watching over us. We can trust, because we have a forgiving God caring for us. We can step out because we have a God who is sure to save.

So today, step out of the boat that represents the safety of your life and take a walk on the water with your Lord. You'll be truly amazed at the view and the ministry you too can do, in His name. Amen.