Thoughts on today's Mass readings 1/6/2016

The Gospel reading today was of the story I know well: Mark's rendition of when Jesus walked on the water:

Mk 6:45-52

 

After the five thousand had eaten and were satisfied,

Jesus made his disciples get into the boat

and precede him to the other side toward Bethsaida,

while he dismissed the crowd.

And when he had taken leave of them,

he went off to the mountain to pray.

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.

About the fourth watch of the night,

he came toward them walking on the sea.

He meant to pass by them.

But when they saw him walking on the sea,

they thought it was a ghost and cried out.

They had all seen him and were terrified.

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.

They were completely astounded.

They had not understood the incident of the loaves.

On the contrary, their hearts were hardened

 

Father John presented a good homily, as always, with the main focus that we should not lose sight that Jesus is always there to get into the boat with us when our lives are being tossed about.

 

While hearing the Word, however, I had a different message.  It is easy to focus on the miracle itself: walking on the water.  However, the verses that struck me were

They had all seen him and were terrified.

But at once he spoke with them,

“Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!”

 

For me personally, this struck a chord.  I feel the presence, the call, of Jesus in my life today perhaps more than I ever have before.  Yet, what is my reaction most of the time?  I am terrified!  How often do we know the presence of the Lord in our lives, we see it, think it, feel it, and yet our reaction is the same as the disciples?  We are terrified!  It is indeed quite easy to be terrified by the prospect of completely surrendering our lives to God.  Letting go, dropping our nets, and truly meaning the words Thy will be done when we pray means a complete and terrifying transformation of our lives.

 

With joy, we read the comforting response that Jesus has for us "Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!"  This, then ties in perfectly with the first reading for today:

 

1 Jn 4:11-18

 

Beloved, if God so loved us,
we also must love one another.
No one has ever seen God.
Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us,
and his love is brought to perfection in us.

This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us,
that he has given us of his Spirit.
Moreover, we have seen and testify
that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world.
Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,
God remains in him and he in God.
We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us.

God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him.
In this is love brought to perfection among us,
that we have confidence on the day of judgment
because as he is, so are we in this world.
There is no fear in love,
but perfect love drives out fear
because fear has to do with punishment,
and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love.

 

The message that ties in so well is in the final lines: There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love.  The Gospel message from St. Mark today finishes by stating They were completely astounded. They had not understood the incident of the loaves.  What is it that they missed in their understanding about the incident of the loaves?  It is this: the disciples were terrified in fear because they were not perfect in love, and more directly, the faith of knowing the love of Christ. Even after reassuring them to not be afraid, they still didn't get it.

 

So, do I get it?  I pray to have the faith to always take courage, as Jesus told his disciples.  The closer I come to God, the more likely I am to feel terrified!  Yes, I must thirst for his perfect love, which will drive out the fear and allow him to live through me.  Yesterday's message for me, thanks to Father John Riccardo's words on the radio, was to surrender.  Today God blessed me with a message to deal with the terror of surrender: have the courage to accept the perfect love of Jesus Christ.