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When they had rowed about three or four miles, 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.” John
6:19–20
One of the most consoling things we can hear is our Lord saying to
us, “It is I. Do not be afraid.” Every time we encounter His divine
presence in our lives, we should hear those words. Though we do not
always perceive Him, He is there, and when we reach out to Him in
faith, He responds, dispelling the fear that cripples us, replacing
it with confidence in His presence.
What causes you to fear? Though some forms of fear are good—such as
fear of falling off a cliff while hiking on a narrow ledge—other
forms of fear that we struggle with every day are not good. Fear of
what people think about us, fear of failure, or fear of being
mistreated are all fears that stem from our own weakness and lack
of surrender to God’s grace. In today’s Gospel, Jesus’ miraculous
act of walking on the water, coming toward the disciples in their
boat at night during the storm, teaches us a lesson about unhealthy
fear.
Fear ultimately stems from a lack of humility. It’s the fruit of
pride, which is rooted in an excessive reliance on oneself rather
than on God. Pride seeks control and resists vulnerability, whereas
humility acknowledges one’s dependence on God and His providence.
This misplaced trust in one’s own abilities or judgments leads to
fear when faced with uncertainties or challenges that exceed
personal power. This is beautifully presented in the
difficult-to-pray Litany of Humility: “From the fear of being
humiliated… despised… suffering rebukes… calumniated… being
forgotten… being ridiculed… being wronged… being suspected—deliver
me, Jesus!”
In today’s Gospel, after Jesus had performed the miracle of the
multiplication of the loaves and fishes, He sent His disciples
ahead of Him. It was evening when they entered their boat and began
rowing across the sea. After they “had rowed about three or four
miles” and “it had already grown dark,” a fearful situation arose:
“the sea was stirred up because a strong wind was blowing.”
Many Church Fathers look at this passage as a literal story that is
filled with symbolism, presenting us with deeper spiritual lessons.
John frequently uses the images of light and darkness in his
Gospel. Darkness symbolizes the absence of Christ, the Light of the
World. The Apostles in the boat at night in the darkness, rowing
against the wind and waves, symbolize our journey in life. The sea
is the world and the boat is the Church, which enables us to
traverse the difficulties we face in the world. Though Jesus is not
in the boat during the waves and wind, He is not far away. He is
attentive to them from a distance but allows them to endure the
storm.
Each of us encounters storms. Though they sometimes lead to
confusion, God permits them to help us overcome fear. Humility is
the virtue that especially dispels fear because humility enables us
to trust in God, rather than in ourselves. By ourselves, we cannot
traverse the seas of the world. Not only will we be tossed about,
making progress difficult or impossible, we sometimes lose our way
and remain in one storm after another.
Reflect today on anything that causes fear or anxiety in your life.
What weighs you down and sets you off course toward the freedom and
joy God wants to grant you? What is it that is more than you can
handle on your own? Whatever it is, humbly admit to yourself and to
God that you need Him, because you are incapable of handling it on
your own. As you do, listen for His gentle promptings of grace.
Hear Him say to you, “It is I. Do not be afraid.” Allow Him to
enter your life, calm the waves, and guide you safely to the
destination He desires for you. Your humble reliance on our Lord
will enable you to traverse any darkness in which you find
yourself.
My ever-present Lord, at times I rely on myself more than You.
This is especially true when I find myself vulnerable and
susceptible to temptation. Please humble me, Lord, so that I will
see Your presence in my life as the only answer, the only way to
overcome every fear and anxiety I experience as I traverse the
waves and darkness of this world. Jesus, I trust in You.
Image: Christ Walking on the Sea by Amédée Varin
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