(Verse 23) And when the crowd was dismissed, he went up the mountain alone to pray. But when evening came, he was there alone. If Peter, James, and John, who had seen the glory of his transfiguration, had been with him, perhaps they would have gone up the mountain with him. But the crowd cannot follow to the heights, unless he teaches them by the sea on the shore and feeds them in the desert. But as for him going up alone to pray, do not attribute it to the one who satisfied five thousand men with five loaves, excluding women and children; but to the one who, upon hearing of John's death, withdrew into solitude. Not that we should separate the person of the Lord, but that his works are divided between God and man.
14:24
(Verse 24): However, the little boat was being tossed by the waves in the middle of the sea; for the wind was contrary. Rightly, as if unwillingly, and the apostles, drawing back, had departed from the Lord, lest they should suffer shipwrecks in His absence. Finally, while the Lord was staying on the mountain peak, immediately a contrary wind arises, and it stirs up the sea, and the apostles are in peril, and the impending shipwreck persists as long as Jesus does not come.
14:25
(Verse 25.) However, during the fourth watch of the night, he came to them, walking on the sea. Military stations and night watches are divided into three-hour intervals. Therefore, when he says that the Lord came to them during the fourth watch of the night, it indicates that they were in danger throughout the entire night, and in the last part of the night, and at the end of the world, he will provide them with help.
14:26
(Verse 26.) And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying: It is a ghost. If, according to Marcion and Manichaeus, our Lord was not born of a Virgin, but appeared in a vision: how is it that now the apostles fear seeing a vision?
And they cried out due to fear. The confused shout and uncertain voice is a sign of great fear.
14:27
(Verse 27) Immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying: Have confidence, I am, do not be afraid. He takes care of what was first in the matter and commands those who fear, saying: Have confidence, do not be afraid. And what follows, I am, does not add who he is, either from a voice they could recognize, who spoke through the darkness of the obscure night, or they repeated that he himself is the one who spoke to Moses: Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: He who is, has sent me to you (Exod. III, 14).
14:28-29
(Verse 28, 29.) But Peter, responding, said: Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water. And he said: Come. In all places, Peter is found to have the most fervent faith. When the disciples were asked who they said Jesus, the Son of God, confesses. He prevents him from going to his passion, and although he may be mistaken in understanding, he is not mistaken in his feelings: not wanting him to die, whom he had confessed as the Son of God just a little while before. He is the first among the first to ascend the mountain with the Savior, and in his passion he alone follows, washing away with bitter tears the sin of denial that had descended from sudden fear. After the passion, when they were in the lake of Genesareth, fishing, and the Lord was standing on the shore, as others were slowly sailing, he did not allow any delays, but girding himself with his own girdle, he immediately threw himself into the waves. Therefore, with the same ardor of faith as always, now also, while others are silent, he believes that he can do by the will of the master what he could do by nature. Command me to come to you over the waters. You give the order, and immediately the waves will be still, and the body which is naturally heavy will become light.
And when Peter descended from the boat, he walked on the water to come to Jesus. Those who think that the body of the Lord was not true, because he walked on soft waters, let them explain how Peter walked, whom they certainly will not deny to be a real human being.
14:30
(Verse 30) But when he saw the strong wind, he was afraid. And when he began to sink, he cried out, saying: Lord, save me. The faith of his soul burned, but human frailty dragged him into the deep: therefore a little is left to temptation, so that faith may increase, and he may understand that he is not saved by the ease of his request, but by the power of the Lord.
14:31-32
(Verse 31, 32.) And immediately Jesus, stretching out His hand, took hold of him and said to him, 'You of little faith, why did you doubt?' And when they got into the boat, the wind stopped. If it is said to the Apostle Peter, of whose faith and ardor of mind we have spoken above, who confidently asked the Savior, saying, 'Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water,' because he was a little afraid, 'You of little faith, why did you doubt?' What must we say, who have even the smallest portion of this little faith?
14:33
(Verse 33.) But those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God." At the one sign of calm being restored to the sea, which sometimes happens after great storms by chance, sailors and passengers truly confess the Son of God, and Arius preaches a created being in the Church.
14:34
(Verse 34.) And when he had crossed over, they came to the land of Genesaret. If we knew what Genesaret would resonate in our language, we would understand how Jesus, through the symbol of the apostles and the boat, leads the Church freed from the shipwreck of persecution to the shore, and makes it rest in a very peaceful harbor.
14:35
(Ver. 35.) And when the men of that place recognized him, they sent throughout all that region. They recognized him by his reputation, not by his appearance, or certainly by the greatness of the signs he was performing among the people; even his face was well-known to many. And see how great is the faith of the people of the land of Genesareth, that they are not content with the salvation of those present, but send to other cities in the vicinity, so that all may come running to the physician.
14:36
(Verse 36.) And all who were sick approached him, and they begged him to touch the fringe of his garment. And whoever touched it, they were healed. But those who were sick should not touch the body of Jesus or the entire garment, but only the edge of the fringe, and whoever touched it, they would be healed. Understand the fringe of his garment, or at least understand this commandment: whoever breaks it will be considered the least in the kingdom of heaven (Above, III). And through the assumption of the body, by which we come to the Word of God, and afterwards enjoy His majesty.