Проповедь на Евангелие в Неделю 9-ю по Пятидесятнице, об искушении Петра и хождении по воде

The Apostle James says: “Rejoice when you fall into various temptations” (James 1:2). The Holy Apostle, of course, does not advise us to be insensitive, but suggests that we include godly thoughts in our work. By enduring temptations, we practice virtue and become pleasing to God. Patience in times of trial is based on the authenticity of our faith in God. Temptations are necessary means by which our faith is strengthened. The exercise of virtue depends on us and is in our power. And falling into temptation does not depend on us, but without temptation there is no success, without temptation our faith is weak. The correct attitude towards temptation is a sign of perfect faith. The Holy Evangelist Matthew tells that Jesus forced his disciples to enter the boat in order to release the people, whom He had recently fed with five loaves of bread and two fish. These people were five thousand men, not counting women and children. Everyone was full and there was still a lot of food left. Jesus left His disciples in the boat, and He Himself went up the mountain to pray to Alone (Matthew 14:20–33). The words “forced the disciples” have great meaning. They mean that Christ knew in advance what would happen next. And before that, He showed that it is necessary to be with people and do everything for the benefit of their souls and bodies. Having secluded himself on the mountain, He shows that one should be alone with God and strive towards Him, being freed from everything earthly. This is greatly facilitated by solitude, emptiness and silence. So, there, in desolate solitude, Christ prayed. His disciples were alone in a boat in the middle of a stormy sea. This happened so that they would learn that they must swim for some time on the sea of ​​this world, filled with various sorrows and temptations, and also so that they would overcome any difficulty by faith. Of course, they could not have done this without the help of Jesus. The boat was in the middle of the sea and was tossed about by the waves. Christ left His disciples to suffer from the storm for a long time in order to cultivate patience in them and make them more resilient. In the fourth watch of the night (almost at dawn), Jesus walked on the waters, looking for His disciples. When they saw the Savior, they mistook Him for a ghost, and He shows them that, first of all, He is God and gives a helping hand to everyone who calls on Him. The sea is stormed in order to fulfill what was predicted by the prophet David about Christ: “rule over the power of the sea, and calm the disturbance of its waves” (Ps. 89:10), - this is exactly what Christ will do a few moments later. Seeing His disciples afraid, He said to them: “It is I, do not be afraid.” There is another meaning hidden in these words. Christ seems to say: “I am always God, but in these times I became Man for your sake. You see Me, you hear Me, and you are convinced that My power surpasses everything. Therefore, I walk on the waves, and I can also command others to do the same.” And having said this, the Lord commanded Peter to come to Him on the water. Peter walked on the water. But as he began to think about himself, he gave in to the temptation of fear and immediately began to drown. Then Jesus said to him, “Peter, why were you afraid?” - and, hastening to his aid, extended His hand to him. They entered the boat together, and then the wind died down, and they landed on the shore. Then all those in the boat worshiped Jesus, saying: “Truly you are the Son of God.” The temptations that come do not only benefit those who are perfect in faith, such as Job, Peter and Paul. Temptations also benefit the imperfect. The disciples of Jesus who were in the boat believed only after this terrible event and worshiped Him, confessing His Divinity. The temptations that come to people are varied. The worst of them are the temptations of pleasure, fame and wealth. By being exposed to such temptations, a person is in danger of forgetting God. There are other temptations that come from outside. This is lust, sin and malice that reign in this world and fall upon a believer along with the enemy of our salvation, who seeks to defeat a person striving in virtue. Brethren! I exhort you to avoid these temptations as much as possible, since it is in our power. Of course, temptations that come to people in the form of attacks do not make people guilty, since the Lord Jesus Christ was also tempted by the devil with his attacks. But in temptation there can also be sin: this is when a person is carried away by sin, being attracted to it by his own lust. Coming to terms with sin, a person is cast into eternal separation from God, that is, spiritually dies. Therefore, giving in to such temptations out of weakness, let us grieve over our retreats and prepare ourselves for repentance, which will again give us the joy of salvation. Let's pray to God and ask Him in the words that Christ Himself taught us: “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (Luke 11:4).