"Truly you are the Son of God".

This is a profession of faith and a proclamation made by the disciples after the experience of the 'Stilling of the Storm'. This experience of the 'Walking on the Water' has many significant symbols. The boat represents the Church, the storm the persecution, the assuring words of Jesus which are intended to encourage the persecuted Christians. This is another occasion whereby Jesus reveals Himself as the one who shares in the divine power to subdue nature and to save others.

This episode of Peter's walking on the sea (vs. 28-32) is one of the three scenes in which Peter gets prominence the other two are, the confession of Peter (16:13-20) and the episode of the shekel (17:24-27). It is also the intention of St Matthew to focus on the disciples especially Peter who is the model of discipleship both in doubt and faith. We too like Peter, ought to learn to understand the mysteries. Jesus' intervention to rescue Peter reflects the truth that it is by faith in Jesus that we can be saved from sin and death.

In the first reading, we see how Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses, the chosen one of God, the consequence is the punishment of Miriam - becoming a leper. We also see how Aaron sought forgiveness as he professed his repentance from sin. Sin is the result of the lack of faith and trust in God's active presence in our lives.