8 January 2014 - storming off

8 January 2014 - storming off


Jesus sends the disciples ahead of him but he never takes his eyes off of them.

When it was evening,
the boat was far out on the sea and he was alone on shore.
Then he saw that they were tossed about while rowing,
for the wind was against them.

They go ahead but not without his care.  He does not leave them alone and tossed about with the wind against them.  This should encourage those of us who feel that we are, as it were, in the same boat.

About the fourth watch of the night,
he came toward them walking on the sea.
He meant to pass by them.

Jesus intends to pass them by but not to leave them on their own.  He intends to pass by like God in the Old Testament passes Moses: "When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by."  He intends to reveal himself to them and save them.  But when he enters into their circumstances they misunderstand and think they are seeing a ghost.  The multiplication of the loaves is supposed to help them to trust his love for them but instead their hearts are hardened.  It is a process, to be sure.  Jesus does not leave them in unbelief.  Instead he says, "Take courage, it is I", using the Divine Name to identify himself.  He casts out fear with the truth of who he is.  The disciples do finally come to trust him.  Eventually John is able to say: "We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us."  Jesus wants us to be able to say this as well.

To say it sincerely we need to know that "he has given us of his Spirit."  His Spirit in us confirms in our hearts the truth of who Jesus is and what he does for our sakes.  By the Holy Spirit we can say with John:

Moreover, we have seen and testify
that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world.

His Spirit allows us to remain in love so that the fear of the wind and the waves is cast out.  Fear of judgment is driven out.  We begin to believe in the love God has for us.  We know he is working all things for our good. We are even empowered to love one another as the God who is love remains in us.  As his we experience his love for us and through us we come to believe just how good he is.  We come to trust the heart he has for all mankind.

For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save.