Him. " Lord, if it be Thou," he exclaims, " bid me come to Thee upon the waters." (Matt. xiv. 28.) A true lover cannot bear to be separated from the object of his love, and overcomes every difficulty and every danger that prevent their mutual communication. We may readily apply to St. Peter on this occasion the words of the Canticle, " Many waters cannot quench charity, neither can the floods drown it." (Cant. viii. 7.) Examine whether your love of God be of this character, or whether you do not rather suffer yourself to be withdrawn from His service, when the least difficulty presents itself.
II. When St. Peter was told to come, he immediately threw himself into the sea: "But seeing the wind strong he was afraid, and when he began to sink, he cried out saying, Lord save me." (Matt. xiv. 30.) Thus God sometimes permits us almost to sink under our temptations, in order that we may be induced to call upon Him with increased fervor. At length He stretched out His hand to Peter, and would not suffer him to sink. So He will act toward us, according to the Psalmist, " When he shall fall, he shall not be bruised, for the Lord putteth His hand under him." (Ps. xxxvi. 24.) And, " He sent from on high and took me, and received me out of many waters." (Ps. xvii. 17.)
III. Consider the mystical sense of walking on the sea. "The world is like a sea," says St. Augustine; "if you love God, you walk upon it, but if you love this world the sea will swallow you up." Examine, whether you love God or the world; for it is a dreadful thing to be swallowed up by this sea. Take care then to walk over and trample on it, and remember the remark of the same Saint, " Every man's inordinate desire is his tempest."
