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“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. Mark 6:50–52
When Jesus appeared to the Apostles, walking on the sea, they were
filled with fear. His words to them are the same words He speaks to
us: “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!” We need to hear
those words more often than we realize. Many things in life can
cause us to fear, worry, obsess, fall into depression, or even
despair. This is because, like the Apostles, we often fail to fully
grasp Who God is. As a result, our hearts remain hardened.
A hardened heart is the direct result of not understanding Who God
is in our lives. Unless we come to know Him, comprehend His love
for us, and place our full trust in Him, our hearts cannot be fully
set free. Despite witnessing miracle after miracle, listening to
sermon after sermon, and even preaching and performing miracles
themselves, the Apostles still did not fully understand and
believe. The Gospel tells us that “their hearts were hardened”
because “they had not understood the incident of the loaves.”
When Jesus said to His Apostles, “Take courage, it is I, do not be
afraid!” He wanted to instill profound faith within them. We must
also allow those words to resonate deeply within us. Courage
dispels fear. By saying “it is I,” our Lord is revealing, “I AM
God!” The Greek phrase ego eimi used here is the same one
found in Exodus 3:14 when God reveals His name: “I AM.” Though we
might believe this with our minds, we often fail to let God’s
revelation penetrate our hearts and dispel the fears and doubts we
face in life.
The symbolism of this Gospel passage is powerful. The sea
represents the world, and the waves and the wind symbolize the
chaos and turmoil we often encounter within it. The boat is the
Church. By walking on the water at night, our Lord reveals His
complete mastery over everything in this world. By entering the
boat as it was being tossed by the waves and wind, He shows that He
is always present within His Church and will bring peace and calm
if we let Him.
Reflect today on our Lord looking directly at you and saying, “Take
courage, it is I, do not be afraid!” Give your full attention to
Him. No matter what struggles you face, no matter the chaos that
seems to surround you, there is nothing beyond God’s power. Believe
this, do not be afraid, invite Him into your heart, and His peace
will abound.
My Lord and great I AM, You are God Almighty. You can calm every
storm, heal every wound, restore peace, and give courage in the
face of turmoil. Help me to hear You say to me, “It is I, do not be
afraid!” I pray that I will never doubt You, never waver in my
faith, and always place my trust in You. Jesus, I trust in
You.
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