Jesus: A Refuge in the Storms of Life

In today's Gospel, Mark 6: 45-52, Jesus asked his disciples to get into a boat and "precede him to the other side toward Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd" of 5000 plus people they had just fed with five loaves of bread and two fish.  The disciples are far our on the sea when a treacherous storm arises. Jesus, on shore, "saw that they were tossed about while rowing, for the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them, walking on the sea." The disciples are terrified not only of the storm but because they thought that a  ghost was approaching them. "But at once he spoke with them, 'Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!'   He got into the boat with them, and the wind died down."

Wow! Jesus is miles from the disciples but knows that they are in trouble and need his help, so he goes out to sea and approaches their wind-tossed boat.  First, he calms their fears, assuring them that it is he coming toward them on the turbulent waters. But does more than that. He gets into the boat with them.

You and I are those disciples journeying on the "turbulent waters" of our lives. Jesus knows when we are in trouble and approaches us. He is always near ready to help!  He is one with us in our troubles and in our sufferings. He does not stand on the outside of our lives, out of our "boats". No, He gets in the "boat" and suffers with us. It is Jesus who calms our fears, fills us with peace and gives us the strength we need to deal with "the storm," just as He helped his disciples in the middle of the dark night and stormy sea that was threatening their lives.

Do we recognize Jesus? Or is He, to us, some kind of ghost, someone we are afraid of and what to avoid?

Where is Your Focus?

In today’s Gospel, John 6: 16-21, the disciples of Jesus are out on the sea traveling to Capernaum at night. Strong winds were blowing, making it dangerous to be out on the waters.  They have rowed 3 or 4 miles and suddenly saw Jesus walking on the waters and coming near the boat. Jesus says: “It is I. Do not be afraid.”

At all times, Jesus knows where you and I are and what circumstances surround us. We could be in calm or tumultuous waters. We could be safe or unsafe! He finds us wherever we are and says: “It is I. Do not be afraid.” We have a choice of focusing on Jesus or on our problems. One focus fills us with peace. The other focus stirs up our fears and anxieties. The choice is ours and is not easy to make. Our problems have a way of overwhelming us, taking possession of us. A suggestion: open the Scriptures to a passage that calms you; the Word of God, Jesus, will take possession of your life and bring you peace.