Jesus had just fed 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish. The disciples were directly involved in the distribution. It must have been an exciting moment for them but Jesus' real purpose was to teach the people that God, in Jesus, takes care of His people. To make clear His purpose, Jesus packs His disciples off in a boat while He goes to pray to His Father in seclusion. He was not going to stay on, basking in the adulation of the crowd. The disciples, however, run into a huge storm, which is really a symbol of the attacks which the early Church experienced from the world around, symbolised by the rough sea. When Peter tried to enter that world, he was overcome by fear. He was to learn that, only with the support of Jesus, could he work effectively there. The same is true of us.

Do everything as if all depended on self and nothing on God and live as if all depended on God and nothing on self.