Third Christmas Weekday after Epiphany - It is I, Do Not Be Afraid!

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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.

Image: Andrewrabbott, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons  

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