This is the word Jesus says to Peter when he asks Jesus if it is really him who is walking on the water.  Come. Jesus invites him to join him.  “Come.”   I imagine as Jesus looks at Peter, he does so with great love, just as he looked at him with love when he first called him to be a fisher of men and women.  I imagine in Jesus’ eyes, there is a mixture of great warmth and love along with a certain amount of challenge and invitation.  It is as if Jesus is saying, “Peter, leave the comfort and protection of your boat.  Come and join me out here on the water, where the waves are high, and fear is real.”  It feels like Jesus is asking Peter to take a risk.  And we know that indeed following Jesus was a risk for all the apostles, as they lost friends, and family, and some of them even lost their lives.

I feel like Jesus is looking at each one of us and also saying , “Come.”  I think he looks at each of us with great love and with intimate knowledge.  He knows each of our strengths and our weaknesses, and he loves what he sees.  But he also wants us to take a step out of our own comfort zones.  He wants us to take a risk.  He wants us to put our heart out there for people to step on; he wants us to reach out in love and vulnerability to others; he wants us to try something new; he wants us to talk to someone we have never spoken with before, to forgive someone we are mad at and move on.

If we look at the height of the waves, and feel the power of the wind, and take our eyes off of Jesus, surely we will sink with Peter.  But if we follow Jesus, and stay close to him, keeping our eyes on him, we will walk with him.  I have been feeling this call of Jesus, to stay close to him, to take risks with him. I know that virtually all of our migrant ministry, including starting the Pope Francis Center, is an invitation to step out and trust.  I like that feeling.   I hope you and all parishioners will be open to his call, and you will dare to try something new.  Come!