THE WORD BECAME FLESH

Wednesday after Epiphany, 2022

1John 4:1-11-18

Ps

Mark 6:45-52

He walked on the Sea

Dear friends in Christ, as human beings we face quite a lot of challenges and some of them are indeed scary. But when we look to Jesus, our problems become like our footstool just as he walked on the troubled sea.

Today’s First Reading (1John 4:11-18) John reminds us of the fact that we are loved by God. Love is so strong that he sent his Son to redeem us. He then says, “If God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” To fail to love is a sign that one does not know God or has not accepted God. Anyone who treats the other without love is godless. God’s presence in us, perfects his love in our lives. Again he says, “God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God and God abides in him.” The love of God casts out fear and makes us strong so that we have confidence for the day of judgment. “There is no fear in love but perfect love casts out fear.”

Today’s Gospel (Mark 6:45-52) is another manifestation of Jesus before his disciples showing his power over nature and all that brings fear. The disciples were in the boat going to the other side of the sea from where the miracle of the loaves had taken place. Jesus was not with them in the boat as he stayed back to dismiss the crowd and then went off to the mountain to pray. Mark tells us that Jesus saw that these disciples “were distressed in rowing, for the wind was against them.” Late into the night, at about the fourth hour, Jesus came to their rescue, walking on the sea. That brought another fear to the disciples as they thought they were seeing a ghost. They cried out and were terrified but Jesus calmed their fears, “Take heart, it is I; have no fear.” Jesus was walking on the sea that was so troubled that they could not cross on the boat. When God is in you, you trample over what brings fear to others, you are calm when others are overwhelmed and you lose no sweat where many are drenched. When he got into the boat with them, the wind ceased. You may have been having terrifying winds in your life, accept Jesus into your boat and let him calm the storms. Be sincere concerning your relationship with him for he can see even the deepest part of you. The storm will cease, the sea will be calm for you.

Let us pray: Lord, the storms of life are fierce. Calm our troubled sea with your loving presence. Amen.