Magnificat Vol. LX, No. 1 9 who did not seek any occasion for vanity; quite the opposite, he was a phenomenon of humility and self-forgetfulness. Contemplate Jesus, look at His examples, beseech Him. He withdrew to the mountain and prayed. Was His prayer for the vain people who were to come? I wonder. Perhaps He was praying for us, so that we may not fall into that accursed sin of vanity; that we may stop wanting to enhance our image at the slightest opportunity and ceaselessly seek the esteem of those around us. While Jesus is praying, the Apostles are in their little boat. A storm is brewing. God set up this entire scenario to teach us. The Apostles are still thinking about the multitude that wants to proclaim Jesus king... They do not really understand what is going on. They are caught up in their ego. They too are caught up in their me. And the tempest comes. When we are caught up in our me, it stirs up storms, and what storms! The worst storms of a soul occur when vanity is at stake. As we mentioned, Herod and all Jerusalem were troubled... The storm breaks over the Apostles. They may not have as strong a me as the others, but God allowed this scenario to make us think, make us ask for His wisdom, His thought. The storm the Apostles go through is the image of souls in the grip of their vanity. The multitude may get away with it, but the Apostles are chosen by God. It is important for them to rid themselves of their ego. Often the storm is necessary to rattle our cage and make us realize that we are full of self-love. The storm lasts as long as necessary. It shakes things up. Meanwhile, Jesus is praying. And when, in His divine wisdom, He deems the moment opportune, He steps out onto the water. Good Peter is there, not yet a saint. “Lord,” he says, “if it is You, bid me to come to You.” And Peter starts walking on the water. After a few steps, he realizes he is between the two: Jesus in front of him and the boat behind: “My God, my Lord, what is going on?” Starting to doubt, he begins to sink into the water. “Lord, help!” he cries. And Jesus pulls him out of the waves and back into the boat. The Gospel says, As soon as Jesus was aboard, the wind fell, and they were immediately at the place they were going to. Strange to say, when you succeed in getting rid of your me, when you remove it and put Jesus in its place, you arrive at your destination. God can work through you, and you become a useful instrument. The Apostles, caught in a terrible storm, saw Jesus, walking on the water, passing by their boat... “Lord,” cried Peter, “if it is You, bid me come to You upon the water.” – “Come!” said Jesus. Peter went out of the boat and walked forward upon the water to come to Jesus. But seeing that the wind was strong, he was afraid; and as he began to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus, stretching forth His hand, took hold of him. “O man of little faith!” He said, “Why did you doubt?” The other Disciples wanted to take Him into the boat. As soon as Jesus was aboard, the wind fell, and they were immediately at the place to which they were going.
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