Patristic Wisdom: Looking to the Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

Amédée Varint, Christ Marchant sur la Mer

Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.” (Matthew 14:22–33)

Therefore when the Lord as teacher of the human race offered the example to us of praying, and the boat was being buffeted by waves in the midst of the sea, since the wind was contrary, “the Lord came to them, walking upon the sea.” Here he showed openly the power of His divinity. For who could have walked on the sea except one who is the Creator of the universe? He, surely, about whom the Holy Spirit had foretold long ago through blessed Job: “Who alone stretches out the heavens and walks on the sea as on the earth.” And who speaks about this same thing similarly through Solomon under the persona of Wisdom, when he says, “I dwelled in the highest places and my throne was in a pillar of cloud. I orbited the heavenly sphere alone and walked on the waves of the sea.” David also testified about this in a psalm and said, “God, Your way was through the sea, Your paths through the great waters.” Similarly, Habakkuk reported about this and said, “Scattering the waters in the crossings; the deep uttered its voice.” What could be plainer than these testimonies, what clearer? By them He is shown clearly to walk on the sea as upon the ground, that is, God’s only begotten Son, who long ago according to the will of the Father stretched out the heavens and at the time of Moses in a pillar of cloud showed the people a way to follow. Hence in what faithless impiety are the heretics being held fast who have dared to deny that Christ is God. They ought to recognize this based on these very testimonies. Therefore the Lord walked upon the sea, He who is both Creator and founder of the universe. For He who had made both the nature of humanity and the sea itself and all things heavenly and earthly could not be weighed down with respect to His body, to prevent Him from walking by the waves of the sea. That is why the very waters were made serviceable to their Lord and Creator, while the waves of the sea were raging, rejoicing in the obedient duty of service.

Thus when the disciples saw the Lord walking upon the sea, they did not know that it was Him. Struck by the wonder of fresh admiration, they thought that it was a ghost. For they knew that the nature of a human birth does not allow this earthly body to be held up by waves carrying the burden. But in order to strengthen the trepidation of His fearful disciples, the Lord says, “Take courage, do not be afraid; I am.” This shows that He is the one who long ago had spoken to Moses, “I am who I am.” Thus the disciples, upon recognizing their Lord and God by hearing His voice, would cease being amazed either that the Creator lords over His creation or that the creation serves its Creator. After all, as soon as they heard the Lord saying, “I am,” that which they knew was impossible for human beings, they immediately believed was possible for the Son of God.

Chromatius of Aquileia, Tractate on Matthew 52.2.2–3