The following reflection is by Jane Mellett

Jesus said: 'You asked to be out here. If you can't handle the wind and waves that's your problem!' And Peter drowned that night in the Sea of Galilee. No? Oh sorry, that's not how the story ends. Do the disciples not realise by now that if they leave the shore without Jesus in the boat, the waters become very choppy indeed? In fact, they had gone so far, that they didn't even recognise him when he did catch up to them.

It is important to remember one thing - at least he got out of the boat. The situation was very serious, the disciples as fishermen knew how quickly conditions could change and soon they'd be in, well... in over their heads! There was no great surfing culture in Galilee at the time so one has to appreciate Peter's courage as he steps out onto the stormy water in a real leap of faith and cries 'Lord, save me'. The reply is not the bureaucratic response above, but 'Jesus immediately reached out his hand....'