Breaking the Word

Then he made the disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone. Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. "It is a ghost," they said, and they cried out in fear. At once (Jesus) spoke to them, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid."  Peter said to him in reply, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.  But when he saw how (strong) the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" After they got into the boat, the wind died down. Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, "Truly, you are the Son of God." (Mt 14: 22-33)

 

 

Man of faith sees God and his presence close to him whatever happens. But a man of little faith sees the natural events as they happen. Jesus sent the disciples away to go before him. As they go they see the sea which they are used to; they see the wind and the rough sea as they were used to in the past; they were used to work into the fourth watch and it was natural for them; and that is the reason they see a ghost.

 

Peter also gets on to the sea with his little faith (seeing the things naturally as normal events that take place regularly). Man of little faith did not see the presence of Jesus as the presence of God. His little faith made him see everything as natural events. So he had to go into the sea and that is the natural law. Only when he see Jesus as Lord and son of God then there is life for him. Man of fiath Jesus the presence of God.

 

Jesus taught the disciples that they should have faith. In the case of miracles also, Jesus told the persons who were healed that their faith had healed them. In life anything positive or successful is a gift of God and this is give for those who are men of faith. Faith is essential for a happy and successful life. Men of little faith also live their lives but they struggle through difficulties and problems.

 

 

 

 

After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and do not be afraid." And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone. As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, "Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead." (Mt 17:1-9)

 

 

Jesus went up a high mountain. Usually when Jesus goes up any mountain it was for prayer and he always went alone. He never took anyone with him. This time he took with him three witnesses and he did not take all his disciples. This was a personal experience of Jesus (like prayer) yet it had to e witnessed to communicate something. And this communication should take place only after his resurrection.

 

There was transfiguration before the three of them. They saw a different face of Jesus. Till now they saw him like anyone of them. But now he appeared differently for them. The changes are compared to light and sun. His face was like sun. No one could look at his face directly. Again his clothes were white as light. Light is bright and it could not be seen directly. Jesus was other worldly person (not earthly let us say)

 

Rightly so there were two more persons talking to him and they were from the other world. There were with him Moses and Elijah. These were the proponents of belief in one true God. Moses had the experience of one true God on Mount Sinai and Elijah made the people to believe in one true God on Mount Carmel. Jesus joins these two on this mount to continue the same: he has come to reveal the one true God