Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

the Rev. Phil Brochard Following the execution of John the Baptizer, Jesus seeks solitude to grieve and pray while his disciples cross the Sea of Galilee. During the night, they become trapped in a storm. In the exhausting “fourth watch,” Jesus comes toward them across the water and says, “Take heart. I am. Do not be afraid.” The sermon emphasizes that “I am” echoes the biblical language of God’s divine presence. Peter steps out of the boat toward Jesus but becomes frightened by the storm and begins to sink. When he cries, “Lord, save me,” Jesus immediately reaches for him. The preacher hears Jesus’ question—“You of little faith, why did you doubt?”—not as condemnation but compassion: I am here, and I will hold on to you. Faith, the sermon argues, is not intellectual certainty, optimism, or a guarantee that life will be easy. Faith is trust—where we place our hearts. Sometimes we choose to step into storms; sometimes storms find us. Faith does not promise that we will never be frightened or overwhelmed. It promises that we will not be abandoned.