Faith + Courage= Walking on Water

So Says Marcellino D'Ambrosio, Ph.D. in a manner of speaking. Hat tip to Essy of This Moment.

Dr. D'Ambrosio explains the difference between Jesus and Peter's (our?) reaction when we're afraid. Jesus carries on. Peter--and we--falter. The reason?

Courage:

In various moments of pious enthusiasm, we surrender our lives, our will, and our future to God. “Just tell me Lord, what You want me to do and I’ll obey.” And then He surprises us a bit by taking us up on our offer. Undaunted, we respond to the call. It could be to the Sacrament of Matrimony which entails lifelong fidelity and generous openness to children. It could be to priesthood and religious life which involve celibacy and obedience to a superior. Or it could be to a degree program, or a tour of duty in the armed forces. We often embark on our journey amidst fanfare and congratulations. Then the harsh reality of the everyday grind sets in. Next come unexpected road hazards. No sooner is a child born with serious medical problems then you lose your job. A model child turns into a rebellious teen who rejects all of your values, including your faith.

If we are honest, most of us notice butterflies flying inside our stomachs amidst such circumstances.

Are we not supposed to feel fear and discouragement? No. Jesus Himself experienced anguish and dread in the Garden of Gethsemani. But notice that He was not deterred by it. He did not hesitate or falter as Peter did — as we usually do.

In spite of our lack of courage, The Lord says to us again:

The most frequently repeated phrase in the Gospels is “Do not be afraid!” The Lord is not speaking to our emotions, since you can’t command emotions. He is speaking to our will. We must make a conscious decision not to allow fear to paralyze us. Peter sank because he stopped walking. Faith means to keep walking even when your knees are knocking.

Surrender to fear demeans us. Shakespeare's Julius Caesar said it best: "Cowards die many times before their deaths." Courage in the face of fear allows us to pass through death into new life. In other words, courage allows our Faith---allows us--to grow up.

I know this from painful experience. The many decisions I made in my life as a result of fear still leave me with regret. Those times when I acted with courage, even when the outcome I sought stood in doubt, have become the best moments. And why should it be otherwise? When we combine Fortitude with Faith--courage with trust--then we follow the Lord. When we're faced with conflict, the Lord stands at our side. When we need to make the hard decision, we do not do it alone.

Peter fell because he lacked the courage to respond fully and bravely to the Faith he posessed. This is the same Peter that would throw himself into the water to reach the Lord one more time. This would be the Peter that repented of his thrice-fold denial by affirming his love for Jesus three times. This would be the Peter upon whom the apostles would depend to lead them after Jesus ascended to Heaven. Indeed, this same Peter found his courage, and he found it the same way any of us could.

He responded with an open heart to the gift that the Lord had given him. The Holy Spirit has courage in abundance to offer to us. We have only to ask for it and open ourselves to receive it. It's our decision to make. Will We? The Trinity awaits our answer. As does the world.