God can make use of anything to draw us closer to Jesus. With faith, even water can support us as we walk toward Jesus. Fr. Eric Immel, SJ, reflects on his own prayer experience of Jesus walking on water. Based on the readings for Sunday, August 13, 2023.
How did Jesus walk on water?
I’m Fr. Eric Immel, and this is my one-minute homily.
In Ignatian contemplation, we immerse ourselves in the stories of Jesus’ life and once when praying with today’s Gospel, I found myself as the water, a surging upward current supporting Jesus’ feet as he walked to his friends in the midst of a storm. When Peter stepped out, he doubted whether the water – I – could hold him, and so as Jesus reached out to him, he looked down at me and said, “hold him up, too.” And I surged.
Everything in our lives – even water – can draw us toward or away from God, and everything can support us in our journey toward Jesus, or leave us sinking. For us, the trick might be to ask that God help us use ALL things for God’s greater glory. We may feel like we’re sinking sometimes, but with faith, we can trust that anything can support our walk toward Jesus.
