13-Aug-23 (Matthew 14:22-33)

How many of you know how to swim? [Wait for answers] How do you swim? What do you do when you're swimming? [wait again] So, you're mostly in the water and laying down, moving your arms and legs to stay above the surface, right?
Have you ever walked on top of the water? [wait for answers]
I grew up in the north where you could actually walk on top of the water, but only when it was winter and the water was ice.
In the story from the gospel for today, Jesus walks across the water when it was liquid... and not only liquid, but in the middle of a storm when the water was thrashing about, rising and falling. The disciples were very much afraid because they knew people who had been thrown out of the boat and drowned in storms like this. And yet here comes Jesus, walking calmly across the waves right to them, helping them out. Once Jesus was in the boat, the wind calmed right down and they were safe.
Now, we won't often see anything like that. More often, God comes to us in times when we're afraid or when we need something by sending someone else to help us, but even in those cases, it may be in an amazing way which we would never have thought of.
Let's talk to God about that.

God, we thank you that you care about us and come to help us when we're afraid. We thank you for Jesus, who showed us how to live without being afraid of everything. We thank you that Jesus taught us how much you love us.
When we see other people who are afraid or maybe just need a friend, help us to be kind to them and tell them about you so they can learn how to not be afraid as well.
We pray in Jesus' name.
AMEN.