Mateus 14
Chromatius of Aquileia · Comentário Patrístico (catena)
Mateus 14:25
Who was able to walk on the sea if not the Creator of the universe? He, indeed, about whom the Holy Spirit had spoken long ago through blessed Job: "Who alone stretched out the heavens and walked on the sea as well as the earth." Solomon spoke about him in the person of Wisdom: "I dwelt in the highest places and my throne was in a pillar of cloud. I orbited the heavenly sphere alone and walked on the waves of the sea." David likewise declared in his psalm: "God, your way was through the sea, your path through the great waters." So too Habakkuk noted, "The raging waters swept on; the deep gave forth its voice."8What is more evident than this testimony, what is more clear? It points to him walking on the water as well as on the ground. This is God's only begotten Son, who long ago according to the will of the Father stretched out the heavens and at the time of Moses in a pillar of cloud showed the people a way to follow. — TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 52.2
Mateus 14:25
Let us focus on the meaning of this fourth watch in which the Lord comes to his disciples who were caught in the storm. The first watch of the night—that is, of the present world—is understood to be from Adam to Noah, the second watch from Noah up until Moses, through whom the law was given. The third watch was from Moses up to the coming of the Lord and Savior. In these three watches the Lord, even before coming in the flesh, with the vigilance of the angels defends the encampments of his saints from the snares of the enemy—that is, the devil and his angels, who from the beginning of the world plotted against the salvation of the righteous. In the first watch, protection is given to Abel, Seth, Enos, Enoch, Methuselah and Noah. In the second watch, to Abraham, Melchizedech, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. In the third watch, to Moses, Aaron, Joshua the son of Nun and, after that, to the other righteous men and prophets. The fourth watch marks the time when the Son of God was born in the flesh and suffered, the time he promised his disciples and his church that he would be eternally watchful after his resurrection, saying, "I will be with you even to the consummation of the world." — TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 52.5
Mateus 14:33
In the face of the storm the Lord got into the boat and the wind ceased. Those who were in the boat came and worshiped him. This signifies that Our Lord and Savior, once the storm of persecution had passed, would come again in the last days to his disciples and his church. For this he made holy Peter the first of the apostles and commended his sheep to him, saying, "Feed my sheep." When the apostles in the church of believers, positioned in the vessel as it were, beheld the glory of the Lord's resurrection, adoring our Lord and Savior, they declared to the human race that he was truly the Son of God. — TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 52.8