Festival of the Presentation of our Lord and the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Posted on February 2, 2022 by under
Scripture: St. Matthew 14:22-33 (NKJV)
14:22 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. 23 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. 24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.
25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.
27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”
28 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”
29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”
31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”
Devotion
Jesus delivers us from fear. He doesn’t always take the cause of our fear away, but He always gives a better word for us to believe than what our fears tell us. The disciples see Jesus walking towards them on the water and fear tells them it’s a ghost. But Jesus has a better word. “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” He tells them to take courage because it isn’t a ghost, it’s their teacher and Savior.
Jesus allows Peter to test Him in this instance so He can teach the disciples that He exercises power over creation for Himself and others. Peter walks to Jesus on the water. But fear comes back, this time because there’s not a ship’s hull between him and the sea. His fear causes him to sink, but not before his faith cries out to Jesus and Jesus delivers him.
There are many things that cause us to fear: our sins, our flesh’s impulses, the devil’s accusations, and the world’s perversities are a few. The changes and chances of life can also tempt us to fear the world rather than God. But Jesus gives us a better word. He has overcome all these things. He bids us to be of good cheer, for He has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and of a sound mind focused on His promises and power.
Prayer: Almighty God, Who knowest us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers, that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright: Grant to us such strength and protection as may support us in all dangers, and carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the Festival of the Presentation of our Lord and the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Almighty and Everliving God, we humbly beseech Thy Majesty, that as Thine Only-Begotten Son was this day presented in the Temple in the substance of our flesh, so we may be presented unto Thee with pure and clean hearts; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
