Ep. 200 - It Is I: The God Who Walks Upon the Sea
Mass Readings for August 9, 2026
The disciples are caught in a fierce storm on the Sea of Galilee when Jesus appears, walking across the waves in a moment theologians hail as a clear theophany—a manifestation of God himself. We’ll row alongside them exploring the geography that makes the Sea of Galilee so treacherous, uncovering the rabbinic secrets of calming the waters, and cracking open the Greek text to see how Jesus’s words echo the Divine name. Anchored in the Old Testament, this episode is packed with layers of history and allusion. Join us as we discover why, in the spiritual life, the safest place in any storm isn’t in the boat—it’s with Jesus.
Diving deep into our Gospel we'll spend our episode looking closer at:
Why Matthew frames Jesus walking on the water as a "theophany" and how Old Testament events anticipate this miracle [01:31]
The significance behind Jesus slipping away for personal prayer on a mountain and its subtle parallel to Moses on Sinai [08:06]
How the Sea of Galilee's dramatic, stormy temperament is rooted in its geography—sitting 700 feet below sea level and just 30 miles south of snow-capped Mount Hermon, creating sudden, perilous waves [24:28]
The Roman system of dividing the night into "watches," and why the timing of Jesus appearing in the "fourth watch" links to divine rescues at the dawn hour in the Exodus and Resurrection stories [29:05]
The disciples' terrified exclamation—"It is a ghost!"—and how the Greek word "phantasma" bridges this scene to Mount Sinai's encounter with God [33:44]
The Jewish seafaring method for calming stormy seas by invoking the Divine name and how Jesus incarnates this authority when he says "It is I" (ego eimi) on the waves [39:27]
Why Peter leaving the boat to join Jesus reveals the true "safest place" in any storm, and how his sinking produces a moment of deeper faith and deliverance matching the Psalms [43:00]
References
Exodus 24:2 - “Moses alone shall come near to the LORD; but the others shall not come near, and the people shall not come up with him.”
Exodus 32:30 - “The next day Moses said to the people, ‘You have sinned a great sin. And now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.’”
"Again and again the Gospels note that Jesus withdrew 'to the mountain' to spend nights in prayer 'alone' with his Father. These short passages are fundamental for our understanding of Jesus; they lift the veil of mystery just a little; they give us a glimpse into Jesus' filial existence, into the source from which his action and teaching and suffering sprang. This 'praying' of Jesus is the Son conversing with the Father; Jesus' human consciousness and will, his human soul, is taken up into that exchange, and in this way human 'praying' is able to become a participation in this filial communion with the Father." (Benedict XVI 7)
“The Transfiguration is a prayer event; it displays visibly what happens when Jesus talks with his Father.” (Benedict XVI 30)
"The life of prayer is the source of infinite riches. It transforms us within, sanctifies us, heals us, helps us to know and love God, makes us fervent and generous in love of neighbor. Provided they persevere, those who commit themselves to a life of prayer can be absolutely sure of receiving all this and more." (Philippe 15-16)
“Jesus’ prayer ‘indicates that the uniquely divine action of walking on the sea proceeds from Jesus’ intimate union with his Father.’” (Allison & Davies 502)
Exodus 14:24-25 - “And in the morning watch the Lord in the pillar of fire and of cloud looked down upon the host of the Egyptians, and discomfited the host of the Egyptians, clogging their chariot wheels so that they drove heavily; and the Egyptians said, ‘Let us flee from before Israel; for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians.’”
Matthew 28:1 - “Now after the sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.”
John 21:4 - “Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.”
Hebrews 12:21 - “Indeed, so terrifying was the sight [phantazo] that Moses said, ‘I tremble with fear.’”
Job 9:8 - "who alone stretched out the heavens, and trampled the waves of the sea"
Psalm 77:16, 19 - “When the waters saw you, O God, when the waters saw you, they were afraid, yes the deep trembled. […] Your way was through the sea, your path, through the mighty waters; yet your footprints were unseen."
Habakkuk 3:15 - "You trampled the sea with your horses, churning the mighty waters."
Isaiah 43:16 - "Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters"
Psalm 18:15 - "Then the channels of the sea were seen, and the foundations of the world were laid bare, at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils."
Psalm 144:6-7 - "Make the lightning flash and scatter them; send out your arrows and rout them. Stretch out your hand from on high; set me free and rescue me from the mighty waters, from the hand of aliens"
Job 26:11-12 - "The pillars of heaven tremble, and are astounded at his rebuke. By his power he stilled the sea"
Psalm 65:7 - "You silence the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples."
Psalm 89:9 - "You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them."
Bava Batra 73a (Babylonian Talmud) - “Rabba said: Seafarers related to me that when this wave that sinks a ship appears with a ray of white fire at its head, we strike it with clubs that are inscribed with the names of God: I am that I am, Yah, the Lord of Hosts, amen amen, Selah. And the wave then abates.”
Mark 6:48 - “And he saw that they were distressed in rowing, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them.”
Exodus 33:18, 21-23 - “Moses said, ‘I beg you, show me your glory.’ […] And the Lord said, ‘Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand upon the rock; and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by; then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen.’”
“Peter asks to walk only on the water separating him from Jesus.” (Allison and Davies 507)
Psalm 69:13-14 - “With your faithful help rescue me from sinking in the mire; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters.”
Psalm 18:16 - “He reached from on high, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.”
“By rescuing Peter Jesus calls Peter to a greater faith - to faith in the power of Jesus to save.” (Allison and Davies 509)
Bibliography
Benedict XVI. Jesus of Nazareth: From the Baptism in the Jordan to the Transfiguration. Translated by Adrian J Walker. New York: Doubleday, 2007.
Davies, W. D., and Dale C. Allison Jr. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Gospel according to Saint Matthew. International Critical Commentary. London; New York: T&T Clark International, 2004.
Keener, Craig S. The Gospel of Matthew: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2009.
Mitch, Curtis, and Edward Sri. The Gospel of Matthew. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2010.
Philippe, Jacques. Time for God. New Rochelle, NY: Scepter, 2008.
Discussion Questions
Theologians describe Jesus walking on water as a "theophany." What is a theophany and what are some other biblical examples that were discussed in the episode?
How does the episode connect Jesus's act of walking on water to Old Testament stories, particularly the stories of Moses? Can you identify specific parallels highlighted?
Why does Matthew emphasize the moment when Jesus goes up the mountain alone to pray before the miracle? What significance does this have in understanding Jesus’s actions and identity?
What lesson about prayer and personal transformation can be drawn from the example of Jesus's prayer, referencing authors like Pope Benedict XVI and Father Jacques Philippe?
What are the geographical reasons the Sea of Galilee is prone to sudden storms? How do these natural circumstances add to the tension of the Gospel story?
The Gospel narrative specifies that Jesus approaches the disciples during "the fourth watch of the night." What is the significance of this timing and how does it link to salvation events in the Old Testament?
When the disciples cry out "It is a ghost," the original Greek word "phantasma" provides a connection to other theophanies, especially in Hebrews and Exodus. How does this deepen our understanding of their fear and the event’s meaning?
The episode provides a "litany" of Old Testament verses showing God’s dominion over the sea. How does this scriptural background illuminate the disciples’ realization that Jesus is the Son of God?
Reflect on Peter’s request, “Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you.” Katie argues that the safest place in the storm is with Jesus rather than in the boat. What spiritual implications does this have for our own lives?
Peter begins to sink and cries out, "Lord, save me!" Reflecting on this, Katie suggests that faith is not about never failing but about calling out to Jesus in our weakness. How does this perspective shift your understanding of faith and dependence on God?