18 April 2015 - shore, not of ourselves

It had already grown dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.

Jesus, it is dark. Where are you? The winds are strong and blowing. We are far from the shores of safety. Where are you?

The world needs the words you have, LORD. Only your words calm the storms. Only your words bring light to the darkness. And you do come.

they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat,
and they began to be afraid.
But he said to them, “It is I. Do not be afraid.”

You are "able to give us deliverance when we least expect it. When man’s understanding can  no longer help him, then the Divine deliverance comes" (Theophylact). Even though the sky is dark and the wind is strong we need not fear. Even though we are far from shore and it we feel alone and cut off from all help we need not fear. You do not require a smooth path to our hearts. You come to us even when there is no path at all. You say, "Do not be afraid" and in your presence fear flees. If we listen to you, your perfect love casts out our fear (cf. 1 Joh. 4:18). If we are willing to take you into our boat we arrive "immediately" at the shore toward which we journey. This is the difference your presence makes in our journey. From hopeless and fearful you transform our hearts to a love, joy, and peace which make the journey effortless. We discover your promise of a yoke which is easy and a burden which is light (cf. Mat. 11:30).

The Apostles feel overwhelmed by the needs of the community in the readings from Acts. They feel strong winds pulling them in different directions. But even with these winds they trust in you to provide. They have your words, "Do not be afraid", engraved in their hearts. They look to the presence of your Spirit in this storm and they trust you to provide.

select from among you seven reputable men,
filled with the Spirit and wisdom,
whom we shall appoint to this task

Their trust in you extends even far enough to believe that you can even work through others. They are able to focus on your mission for them and make it to the shore. They are able to lay aside the other pieces of your mission which are for others and not for them. It isn't that they don't care or don't realize how important it is to make sure that the widows are included in the daily distribution. They know that their task in the word of God. They trust in you enough to allow you to entrust the daily distribution to Stephen and the others. When trust in you is the driving force behind a community that community can flourish.

The word of God continued to spread,
and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly;
even a large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith.

We want to trust you like this, Jesus. We want to welcome you into our boats to cast out fear so that we can immediately reach the shores to which you send us.

Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.