Why Did You Doubt?

Gospel: Matthew 14: 22-36

How often does Jesus rebuke his disciples for their fear, for their lack of faith? As in all other instances, it is when we turn our eyes away from Jesus that our faith wavers, that we fear, and sink into the sea like Peter.  It is then that we come to a crossroads: we either call out to Jesus to save us, or we fly into the arms of the powers of this world for its protection, fleeting as it may be.

Christians are consumed with conspiracy theories and arguing for their religious freedom.  Jesus was the victim of a conspiracy and what did he do? He continued going about doing good, not letting it bother him in any way.  Jesus told us what to do if we are persecuted: rejoice! Do not fear!  If we keep our eyes on Jesus, this is what we will see.  

In the early church we find Christians rejoicing in persecution, continuing to go about doing good in the midst of the conspiracies against them.  If we no longer do this it is the fruit of the Constantinian bargain: the Church became the preferred religion.  It became the persecutor instead of the persecuted.  It became a religion of privilege instead of a humble servant.  We wed ourselves to worldly powers to preserve power and influence.  But like Peter we can cry out to Jesus to save us, and he will do so, and we can keep our eyes fixed on him to find another way to live.