Some commentaries on Matthew identify the first half of the apostle’s gospel as the “Christ book,” while calling the second half of his gospel the “Church book.” Today’s text, taken from the midst of a series of miracle stories, focuses on both “books.” In its “short-form” identified as “Jesus Walking On The Water,” our gospel reading is both about the authority and divinity of Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, and a penetrating look at all the disciples, and Peter in particular.

At the beginning of our reading Jesus’ authority is fully in focus as he asserts himself with his disciples. In an unusual move Jesus orders his disciples to leave him — putting them back into the boat that had brought them to this far side of the Sea of Galilee. Although Jesus had originally intended for his disci…