Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him

 

 Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum.  And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them.  Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing.  So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid.  But He said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid."  Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going. 

On the following day, when the people who were standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except that one which His disciples had entered, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples, but His disciples had gone away alone -- however, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks --- when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.  And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, "Rabbi, when did You come here?"  Jesus answered them and said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.  Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him."

 

- John 6:16-27 

 

Yesterday the lectionary took us to chapter 6 of John's Gospel, with its focus on the fulfillment of the events of the Exodus and the first Passover.  We read that Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.  Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.  And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.  Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.  Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?"  But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.  Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little."  One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Him, "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?"  Then Jesus said, "Make the people sit down."  Now there was much grass in the place.  So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.  And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.  So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost."  Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.  Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."  Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.

 

 Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum.  And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them.  Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing.  So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid.  But He said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid."  Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.  This is the fifth of seven signs recorded in John's Gospel.  As noted in yesterday's reading and commentary, this entire chapter of John's Gospel is one that has parallels to the story of Exodus, suggesting Christ as fulfillment of the first Passover and those Old Testament events.  My study Bible comments that, in the Exodus, Moses leads the people across the Red Sea, walking on dry ground in the midst of the water (Exodus 14:15-31).  Here Christ sends His disciples across the sea, and then walks on the sea as if it were dry ground.   

 

On the following day, when the people who were standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except that one which His disciples had entered, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples, but His disciples had gone away alone -- however, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks --- when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.  And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, "Rabbi, when did You come here?"  Jesus answered them and said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.  Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him."   Once again, these are the same people who sought to take Jesus by force and make Him king against His will in yesterday's reading (above), because they "ate of the loaves and were filled."  Here the emphasis shifts again to spiritual nurturing, what kind of food Christ has to offer, and takes on the hints of eucharistic significance.  

 

 Jesus says, "Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him."  The theme of food and of feeding will make its mark throughout this chapter of John's Gospel, just as it began with the feeding of the five thousand in the wilderness (see yesterday's reading, above).  Here, Jesus makes it clear that these men seek to make Him king by force not even because of the marvelous signs He's done (signs of God's extraordinary presence among them), but simply because they were were fed ("because you ate of the loaves and were filled").  These are the not the reasons to seek Christ.  In fact, when Jesus tells them, "Do not labor for the food which perishes," this is a command, a direct command from God, a prohibition.  He then goes on to issue a positive command, to labor "for the food which endures to everlasting life."  He's teaching them what is worth making an effort for, what is worth laboring, working for.  And we should take heed that we do the same.  For Jesus has also taught us, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33).  This is what we work for, because this sets us right in the world and with the rest of the world and all the things we need for life.  But then Jesus goes on to teach us something about this food which endures to everlasting life, for it has particular qualities and comes from a particular place for a reason.  Not just anybody can provide us with this food, but only Christ can:  ". . . which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him."   He is the Son of Man, a mysterious title known from the prophecy of Daniel (see Daniel 7:13), and which Jesus is teaching is Himself, Incarnate.  But there is more; that is, "because God the Father has set His seal on Him."   We modern English speakers think of a seal as that which closes up something, but that definition misses the mark here (metaphorically and literally!).  Because this seal is literally a mark, a signet, the symbol of a person's identity.  It comes from the mark a signet ring or symbol would press into sealing wax, conferring the authority of the person to whom the seal belonged or represented.  This seal from God the Father is the mark of the Father upon the Son, meaning that all the Father's authority is set upon Christ, upon the Son of Man.  Whatever this Son of Man, this Logos, the Word about whom John's Gospel is written to teach us, commands or teaches is therefore a command from God, just as a letter or communication from a king or president confers all the authority of that office upon its contents.  Therefore whatever nurturing substance Christ gives us, whatever is the food which endures to everlasting life, it does so because God the Father has set His seal upon the Son of Man.  His gift is therefore that which conveys life and death, the absolute authority of God the Father, and there is no other person or being who can do this for us.  Christ, the Son of Man, is the One who can give this to us. 

Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid

 

 Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land.  Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them.  Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by.  And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were troubled.  But immediately He talked with them and said to them, "Be of good cheer!  It is I; do not be afraid."  Then He went up to the boat to them, and the wind ceased.  And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled.  For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.

When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there.  And when they came out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, ran through that whole surrounding region, and began to carry about on beds those who were sick to wherever they heard He was.  Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment.  And as many as touched Him were made well.

 

- Mark 6:47-56 

 

Yesterday we read that the returning apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught on their first mission as those sent out by Him.   And He said to them, "Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while."  For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.  So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves.  But the multitudes saw them departing and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities.  They arrived before them and came together to Him.  And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd.  So He began to teach them many things.  When the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, "This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late.  Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread, for they have nothing to eat."  But He answered and said to them, "You give them something to eat."  And they said to Him, "Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?"  But He said to them, "How many loaves do you have?  Go and see."  And when they found out they said, "Five, and two fish."  Then He commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass.  So they sat down in ranks, in hundreds and in fifties.  And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fish He divided among them all.  So they all ate and were filled.  And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fish.  Now those who had eaten the loaves were about five thousand men.  Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away.  And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray.

 

  Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land.  Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them.  Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by.  And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were troubled.  But immediately He talked with them and said to them, "Be of good cheer!  It is I; do not be afraid."  Then He went up to the boat to them, and the wind ceased. This is the second time that Jesus permits His disciples to be caught in a storm (see also this reading).   The first time He was with them, asleep in the stern of the boat.  Here, He is on the mountain praying (see yesterday's reading, above), and so has left them alone.  My study Bible comments that in this way, Christ strengthens their faith that He will always be with them in the midst of the storms of life.  It is I is literally translated "I Am," which is the divine Name of God (see John 8:58).  Christ reminds the fearful disciples of His absolute and divine authority over their lives.  

And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled.  For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.  My study Bible comments here that knowing Christ is a matter of the heart, not simply the intellect.  When our hearts are illumined by faith in God, they are open to receive His presence and grace.  In the ascetic writings of the Church, the heart is called "the seat of knowledge."

When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there.  And when they came out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, ran through that whole surrounding region, and began to carry about on beds those who were sick to wherever they heard He was.  Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment.  And as many as touched Him were made well.  Christ permits miracles through touch, my study Bible says, to show that His very body is life-giving (see also the healing of the woman with the flow of blood, Mark 5:25-29, part of this reading).

There are times when we feel abandoned by God, even though we believe and have experiences that tell us that God has acted in our lives in the past.  In today's reading, the disciples themselves, we're told, have hearts that are hardened; that is, they fail to understand the miraculous feeding of the five thousand (see yesterday's reading, above).  Even with the memory of our faith, there are times when we still feel abandoned by God to circumstances, even circumstances that seem too overwhelming for us to bear or to overcome.  But today's passage reassures us now that twice the disciples have been seemingly (literally) "lost at sea," but nevertheless in the midst of their time of fear and abandonment, Christ is there.  Although Jesus stayed behind on purpose, going up to the mountain alone to pray, He is still somehow aware of their distress, and He responds as well.  It is a reminder that God knows about us and cares about us, although God is seemingly an impossible distance away, impossibly far away for God to be aware of ourselves and our own tiny problems compared to a universe of cares and "a sea of troubles," to borrow one expression from Shakespeare's Hamlet Soliloquy.  Indeed, Hamlet, in the midst of his indecision regarding his troubles might be a good example for us, of one who acts on emotion, suspicion, overthinking, impulsive at the wrong time -- he is anything but dependent upon faith.   But today's passage suggests patience amidst the storm; it seems to tell us to hold on, despite our horrible feelings of doom and fear, not to act impulsively or impatiently, not to panic.  Making this particular story more complex, and also one more relatable to us in the modern world, the event of the disciples straining at rowing on the sea takes place about the fourth watch of the night, which corresponds to approximately three o'clock in the morning.  (A "watch" was a three-hour period; the first watch began at 6:00 PM or sunset, the second at 9:00 PM, the third at midnight, and the fourth at 3:00 AM.)  So to add another dimension to our story, it is like a troublesome, burdensome problem that keeps us awake with strain or fear in the middle of the night.  Christ's ghostly appearance is another sign of such times, when things are heightened and magnified as prospects of gloom, which take on a different character in the light of day after we've slept.  But to be able at last to encounter our Lord is to encounter the reassuring presence of love.  For even when we cannot access the confidence we find in our faith, experience teaches us that there will be a time when Christ unexpectedly brings His confidence to us, a reassuring presence, and one that invites us to abide with Him, even when we're in the middle of troubles.  Indeed, Jesus' first word to the disciples is translated here as "Be of good cheer," but in the Greek it more literally means "Take courage."  And this is, so often, what we really need.  We must remember that Christ calls us to endurance; that means, often, that what we will need is patience (Matthew 24:13, Luke 21:19).  Sometimes we'll find peace in a church service, or when we can get alone to pray following His example, or when we finally enable ourselves to take a deep breath or a walk in nature somewhere.  A talk with a faithful friend or loved one can also pull us out of ourselves and remind us that we're not alone in our faith or our prayers.  But even when things are admittedly difficult, and we struggle, we can still be reminded in the midst of those times, "Be of good cheer!  [Take courage!]  It is I; do not be afraid."  There is a way to go through whatever it is that faces us, and in the long haul, that is found in the one thing necessary to see us through, our faith and the presence of Jesus Christ.

 

 

 

Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him

 

 Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum.  And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them.  Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing.  So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid.  But He said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid."  Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.

On the following day, when the people who were standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except that one which His disciples had entered, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples, but His disciples had gone away alone -- however, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks -- when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.  And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, "Rabbi, when did You come here?"  Jesus answered them and said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.  Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him."

 

- John 6:16-27 

 

Yesterday we read that Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.  Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.  And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.  Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.  Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?"  But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.  But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.  Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little."  One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Him, "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?"  Then Jesus said, "Make the people sit down."  Now there was much grass in the place.  So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.  And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.  So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost."  Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.  Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."  Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.

 

 Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum.  And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them.  Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing.  So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid.  But He said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid."  Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.  This is the fifth sign of seven recorded in John's Gospel.  My study Bible reminds us that, in Greek, It is I is literally translated "I Am," which is the divine Name of God (Exodus 3:14).  We remember that the text has told us that it is the time of Passover, and that John's chapter 6 parallels the story of Passover and the Exodus in many ways.   My study Bible notes that in the Exodus, Moses leads the people across the Red Sea, walking on dry ground in the midst of the water (Exodus 14:15-31).  Here,  Christ sends His disciples across the sea and then walks on the sea as if it were dry ground.  

 

 On the following day, when the people who were standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except that one which His disciples had entered, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples, but His disciples had gone away alone -- however, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks -- when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.  And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, "Rabbi, when did You come here?"  Jesus answered them and said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.  Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him."  We recall that these were the same people who so desired an earthly Messiah that they declared Jesus to be the expected Prophet (Deuteronomy 18:15-19), after Christ's miraculous feeding in which they were filled with earthly things; when Jesus understood they wanted to make Him king by force, He left for the mountain alone.  Here He begins to urge them regarding His true purpose and origin, of which the miraculous feeding was but a sign, and directs them to the greater things He offers.

Jesus says, "Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him."  He sees how strenuously they seek Him, looking for Jesus, having come across the sea to Capernaum (the "headquarters" of His ministry, where Peter has a family home).  They don't know that He has walked on the water, and wonder when He came there.  But Jesus directs their attention not to His fifth miraculous sign in John's Gospel, and away from their motivation at having been fed with food which perishes.  Instead He directs them to His greatest gift, which is the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give them, "because God the Father has set His seal on Him."  Clearly, in the miraculous feeding of this multitude, Christ (and therefore God) has acknowledged that human beings need earthly nourishment for our well-being.   But He reminds them that there is a more important reason to seek Him, and that is for the food which feeds an everlasting life, which does not perish, and this must be their primary goal.  It does not mean we cease living our earthly lives or that our very human lives don't matter.  But Christ uses once again this mysterious term for Himself, the Son of Man, which seems to indicate the Incarnation itself:  God who has become human and lived among us.  It implies that this is His very mission, to give the food which endures to everlasting life, and that the most important thing is that we realize that God the Father has set His seal on Him.  Just as the incarnate Son of Man is both human and the divine Son of God, so our lives must follow a purpose and goodness set in heaven which permeates and guides our worldly lives.  Jesus sets down a priority here, and not a separation.  We are, in fact, meant to prioritize this higher good as an overall goal of our earthly lives, and merge the two as does His Incarnation.  In yesterday's commentary, we pondered what it meant to feed ourselves, how we can pick and choose in a discerning way what we choose to consume, to take into our lives and, effectively, make a part of ourselves.  Here, Jesus reinforces the point that there are things we can pursue which nurture that greater potential within us for everlasting life, for life in abundance which can permeate even our earthly life in the here and now.   It seems that if we set our sights on this overarching goal or pattern, it sets the tone for our lives -- and the things we do, and the things we "take in" or consume in our worldly lives then become aimed under that goal, and supportive of that life in abundance which Christ promises, and advises us to seek.  It becomes a question of setting a pattern of goals and priorities, and then our worldly life may be guided to support a blessed life in the here and the now.  Everlasting seems to describe a quality which applies not only to life beyond the worldly, but also intermingled with the here and the now, our earthly life, just as the Incarnate Jesus Christ is both human and divine, indistinguishably and inseparably so.  It is a quality of life that is enduring and eternal, and includes today but is not limited or perishing.  And it is the food of this life that we are asked to seek, and of which we are invited to partake by Christ.  In Greek, the word translated as "eternal" or "everlasting" is αἰώνιος/aionios, meaning of an age.  Strong's Concordance describes it as "partaking of the character of that which lasts for an age, as contrasted with that which is brief and fleeting."  Christ has come to establish a Kingdom, and He invites us to participate in that Kingdom, even as we live in this world -- and it is the bread of the Kingdom which He teaches us to pursue, and that Kingdom begins today.  He has taught us to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread," meaning the today's bread for the eternal day of the Kingdom, which is here with us.

Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid

 Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land.  Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them.  Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by.  And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were troubled.  But immediately He talked with them and said to them, "Be of good cheer!  It is I; do not be afraid."  Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased.  And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled.  For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.

When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there.  And when they came out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, ran through that whole surrounding region, and began to carry about on beds those who were sick to wherever they heard He was.  Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment.  And as many as touched Him were made well.

- Mark 6:47-56

Yesterday we read that, following their first mission, the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught.  And He said to them, "Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while."  For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.  So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves.  But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities.  They arrived before them and came together to Him.  And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd.  So He began to teach them many things.  When the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, "This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late.  Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat."  But He answered and said to them, "You give them something to eat."  And they said to Him, "Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?"  But He said to them, "How many loaves do you have?  Go and see."  And when they found out they said, "Five, and two fish."  Then He commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass.  So they sat down in ranks, in hundreds and in fifties.  And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fish He divided among them all.  So they all ate and were filled.  And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fish.  Now those who had eaten the loaves were about five thousand men.  Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away.  And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray. 

 Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land.  Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them.  Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by.  And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were troubled.  But immediately He talked with them and said to them, "Be of good cheer!  It is I; do not be afraid."  Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased.  And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled.  For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.   Our reading picks up from where yesterday's left off:  after feeding the five thousand men (and more women and children) in the wilderness, Jesus had sent the disciples to go in a boat before Him across the Sea of Galilee yet again, towards Bethsaida.  Jesus Himself went to the mountain to pray.  So at this time, the disciples are by themselves in the middle of the Sea of Galilee, which is really a very large lake, approximately thirteen miles long and eight miles wide.   The disciples, several of whom are experienced fishermen, are straining at rowing as the wind was against them.  The text tells us that Jesus, alone on the land, saw them.  The fourth watch of the night is about three o'clock in the morning.  This is the second time that Christ has allowed them to be caught in a storm (see also this reading).  My study bible notes that the first time, He was with them (He slept in the stern of the boat); this second time He has left them alone.  In this way, my study bible says, Christ strengthens their faith that He will always be with them in the midst of the storms of life.   Jesus tells the disciples, "It is I," which is literally translated from the Greek, "I Am," and is the divine Name of God (see John 8:58).  My study bible tells us that Christ reminds the fearful disciples of His absolute and divine authority over their lives.  Interestingly the text notes that the disciples had not understood about the multiplication of the loaves (see yesterday's reading, above), because their heart was hardened, meaning they did not perceive the miraculous nature of the feeding, Jesus' divine power at work.  Even the disciples were blinded to the nature of what was happening, despite the things -- such as divine healing -- which they had already seen.  My study bible comments that knowing Christ is a matter of the heart, not simply the intellect.  It says that when our hearts are illumined by faith in God, they are open to receive God's presence and grace.  In the ascetic writings of the Church, the heart is called "the seat of knowledge."

When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there.  And when they came out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, ran through that whole surrounding region, and began to carry about on beds those who were sick to wherever they heard He was.  Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment.  And as many as touched Him were made well.  We note again Jesus' fame for healing.  He is the hope of the hopeless.  Again, even the hem of His garment is now recognized as healing (see 5:25-29).  My study bible says that Christ allows miracles through touch to show that His very body is life-giving.

What do we make of the phenomenon of Jesus' healing by touch, that even the hem of His garment is life-giving?  My study bible gives us a fundamental understanding of our faith, that His very body is life-giving.  This is a foundational treatment in the understanding of the Eucharist and its benefits for us.  There are many dimensions to the understanding of the Eucharist, and this is one of them.  As we "do this in remembrance" of Him (Luke 22:19), so we accept that this is His body and His blood  (14:22-26).  We accept, and I also ascribe to this aspect of our faith, that Christ is mystically present.  "Mystically present," as I understand it, does not entail some deep detailed explanation of how exactly that happens physically or microscopically or any such thing.  It is what it implies:  an article of faith, a mystical reality that involves far more than we understand or know.  In the sacrament of the Eucharist, as instituted by Christ, He is mystically present, His body and blood.  This is the body and blood which was capable of giving healing by faith and through touch.  It is that which was prefigured in the feeding of five thousand, which we read in yesterday's lectionary reading (above).  Today, in the midst of the coronavirus epidemic, debate rages in the Churches over questions of protection of the population and the distribution of the Eucharist.  State bodies have intervened, and at this present moment, churches are not congregating.  Instead, many are having services without a full congregation present, in which priests do as they have done since the institution of the Church:  they consecrate the sacrament on behalf of all of their flock.  They pray for us.  They are mediators in this sense of acting on our behalf in worship.  And the sacrament goes on, the Eucharist remains for all.  This does not stop.  In some churches (such as the Armenian Apostolic Church), Lent is a time when the sacrament is not taken as the normal practice in the Church.  But we can all look to the story of the disciples as they row their boat against strong headwinds, alone in the middle of the Sea of Galilee, for some guidance and enlightenment in our present circumstances at this time.  Although they are far away from Christ, and feel terribly threatened and afraid in the storm and in the darkest part of the night, they really are not alone.  Christ, alone on the land, still sees them straining at rowing.  He knows about them, although they are not aware that He knows and He sees.  For them, He is far away, and so when He approaches, walking on the water, they suppose that He is a ghost.  But He is not a ghost; He is instead mystically present.  That is, we don't know how His divine power works, we cannot explain it, and we don't have rational explanations based on laws of physics that we know.  But then again, Christ -- although fully human -- is not an average human being.  He is also divine, and therefore spans dimensions of existence in ways we can't know nor understand.  Whether we are first century fishermen, or PhD candidates in modern science, the cosmos, in its entire existence and its fullness, still holds mysteries we can't explain and don't know about.  Let us consider ourselves then, like the apostles, straining at rowing with headwinds against us, in the middle of a giant lake, at three o'clock in the morning.  We don't know that Christ is aware of us, and we certainly can't necessarily perceive Him.  But He knows and He comes to us.  His life-giving Eucharist is served in our churches on our behalf whether we are present there or not.  Let us remember His words to the disciples, "Be of good cheer!  It is I; do not be afraid."   Through all things, this divine "I Am" is present with us.   He sees our struggle; He asks our faith, and that we call on Him through prayer, mystical dialogue.  Let us remember that our emphasis now should be on our faith, and how we get through uncertain circumstances.  Keep in mind always that the "mystical" part of our faith is indispensable, and that without it, we don't have a complete grasp of what to be a Christian is all about.  We accept in trust that there are realities we don't yet understand, and we look to a future when possibly we will come to know what we don't see now.  What we do know, however, is that love transcends all realities, from the divine to the deeply worldly.  There is nothing that can stop it, save the hardness of our hearts to turn against its understanding and perception.  Let us read once again from the words of St. Paul:  "Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part.  But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.  For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.  And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love" (1 Corinthians 13:8-13).  It is love through which Christ is sent ("For God so loved the world" - John 3:16).  Jesus tells the disciples, "Do not be afraid."  St. John writes that "perfect love casts out fear" (1 John 4:18).  We put our trust in that love, through all things, even when the winds blow against us, for that is where our faith belongs.  In this time of difficulty, call on that love, count on it, live it, share it as we are motivated to do, and let it give us strength to ride out the storm.   His love is always mystically present.

Lord, save me!

Peter saved from drowning, mosaic. Monreale Cathedral, 1174-78, Palermo, Sicily

 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.  And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray.  Now when evening came, He was alone there.  But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.  Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.  And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!"  And they cried out for fear.  But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer!  It is I; do not be afraid."

And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."  So He said, "Come."  And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.  But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!"  And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"  And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.  Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God."

When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret.  And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent out into all that surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick, and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment.  And as many as touched it were made perfectly well.

- Matthew 14:22-36

Yesterday we read that when Jesus heard that Herod feared He was John the Baptist risen from the dead, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself.  But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities.  And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.  When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, "This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late.  Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food."  But Jesus said to them, "They do not need to go away.  You give them something to eat."  And they said to Him, "We have here only five loaves and two fish."  He said, "Bring them here to Me."  Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass.  And He took the five loaves the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes.  So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained.  Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.  And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray.  Now when evening came, He was alone there.  But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.  Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.  And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!"  And they cried out for fear.  But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer!  It is I; do not be afraid."   Jesus has just fed thousands in the wilderness, which is a prefiguring of the Eucharist, and it is thus another turning point in His ministry.  He's also come to know that Herod fears the power at work in Him.   He withdraws up on the mountain by Himself to pray, as was His intention in coming to a deserted place before the feeding in the wilderness in yesterday's reading, above.  My study bible points out regarding today's reading that only God has dominion over nature; therefore His walking on the sea is a confirmation that Christ is divine.   It also notes that this is the second time that Christ permits His disciples to be caught in a storm (see this reading for the first).  In that first incident, Christ was with them.  Here He has left them alone while He prays on the mountain.  In the tradition of the Church, we understand that Christ strengthens their faith that He will always be with them in the midst of the storms of life, as my study bible puts it.  It is I is literally translated from the Greek "I Am," which is the divine name of God (see John 8:58, Exodus 3:14).  My study bible comments that in so saying, Jesus reminds the fearful disciples of His absolute and divine authority over their lives.  Let us note that all of this takes place in understandably frightening circumstances.  The fourth watch of the night is about three o'clock in the morning.

And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."  So He said, "Come."  And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.  But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!"    My study bible says that it is Peter's faith that allows him to walk on the water.  It emphasizes that rather than asking to walk on the water per se, Peter asks that He be commanded to come to Jesus.  This gives us an emphasis that it is not a desire to perform miracles that is present in Peter, but rather a desire to be with the Lord.  As long as he keeps his focus on Christ, Peter is able to participate in the divine miracle.  But as soon as he is distracted, he begins to sink.

And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"   My study bible points out that the Greek term for doubt used here means "wavering" or "hesitation."   What caused Peter to sink was not the storm, but rather his doubt.  Christ does not rebuke the wind here (as in this previous event), but rather Peter.

And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.  Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God."   In Matthew's Gospel, this is the first time that the disciples confess that Jesus is the Son of God.  In this recognition of divinity, worship is appropriate.  The word in Greek translated as worshiped means to bow down or make a prostration.  The boat, my study bible says, is symbolic of the Church.

When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret.  And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent out into all that surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick, and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment.  And as many as touched it were made perfectly well.  Here the sense of touch is focused upon. My study bible says that Christ permits miracles through touch in order to show that His very body is life, and that contact with His flesh is life-creating (see 9:20-22, the story of the woman with the blood flow).

At this stage in Christ's ministry, it is evident that His appeal is now to great multitudes.  There is contradistinction between His acts in private with His apostles, and the public ministry that creates a sensation.  Throughout chapter 13 (the previous chapter in Matthew's Gospel), Jesus taught in parables, and Matthew alternated reporting Christ telling the parables to the public, and in private explaining them to His disciples.   In chapter 14, Christ's renown has reached such proportions that even Herod now fears that John the Baptist has risen from the dead, and that this is the source of Christ's power.   In response, Jesus withdrew from the public, going to a deserted place, but the crowds followed Him.  This resulted in the miraculous feeding of thousands which we read in yesterday's reading, above.  But Jesus still needs time to Himself alone on the mountain to pray, because Herod's suspicion of Him is clearly yet another turning point in the ministry.  In today's reading, we get an intimate moment with the disciples which is both earth-shattering in its revelation, and yet strongly personal.  That is, Peter's request to go to Jesus on the water, and the confession of all those who were on the boat that Jesus is the Son of God, together with their worship of Him.  This is, indeed, astonishing news, but it comes only to the few to whom it has been revealed.  When Jesus is recognized yet again in another region across the Sea of Galilee, the frantic crowds appear again, who desire even simply to touch His hem to receive His healing power.  In sum, we're given contrasting scenes of great public acclaim, and also private encounters with Christ in which revelation occurs, and also interaction of the most personal kind.  Certainly the interaction of Peter and Jesus is a glimpse into a personal relationship, which also becomes occasion for teaching.  Even Jesus' search for privacy on the mountain is about the personal and private need for prayer and communion with God the Father.   And so, in presenting to us these contrasting images within Christ's life and ministry, the Gospel also prepares us for both the private and public life of faith.  In this, also, is the deeply personal nature of encounter with Christ, and the intimacy that is necessary within a public practice of faith.  The crowds come for something they deeply desire, but to "know" Christ on an intimate and personal level becomes something necessary and encouraged.  It is part of the deepening of our faith to which we are called, part of this road within which the disciples travel and learn to trust Christ on yet new levels.  The entire text with these alternating scenes of public and private life is meant to teach us also about the deepening personal nature of our faith to which we are called as His disciples.  So, too, we will learn in our own lives to lean more deeply on our faith, to trust to intimate moments in prayer -- just as Jesus does -- which are indispensable to the guidance a faithful person must seek in his or her life.  To depend upon this growing faith, to allow ourselves to experience even the risk of faith, is to go forward in one's discipleship.  The risk involved is something that is not necessarily often remarked upon, but let us note something our earliest faithful forbears knew and understood quite well:  that to follow Christ is, in fact, to deepen risk.  We will find ourselves in circumstances that strongly test our own character, bringing out strengths we didn't have before, and courage, even as the apostles are thrown into circumstances that demand the development of an even greater faith.  For Peter, it's a "sink or swim" moment (to make a bad pun) -- and yet, Christ is always there.  Peter's plea, "Lord, save me!" makes a good prayer for any of us at any time.  Let us, moreover, remember Christ's reply, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"   There is a remarkable line in one of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novels:  "In a real dark night of the soul it is always three o'clock in the morning, day after day" (The Crack-Up).  I am certain he was inspired by this story, as both Matthew and Mark report it taking place at the fourth watch of the night.  Let us remember Peter's effective prayer at such times for ourselves, and that there are all sorts of ways in which we may need to be "saved."

Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid

 Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and he was alone on the land.  Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them.  Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by.  And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were troubled.  But immediately He talked with them and said to them, "Be of good cheer!  It is I; do not be afraid."  Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased.  And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled.  For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.

When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there.  And when they came out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, ran through that whole surrounding region, and began to carry about on beds those who were sick to wherever they heard He was.  Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment.  And as many as touched Him were made well.

- Mark 6:47-56

Yesterday we read that the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught on their first apostolic mission.  And He said to them, "Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while."  For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.  So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves.  But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities.  They arrived before them and came together to Him.  And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd.  So He began to teach them many things.  When the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, "This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late.  Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat."  But He answered and said to them, "You give them something to eat."  And they said to Him, "Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?"  But He said to them, "How many loaves do you have?  Go and see."  And when they found out they said, "Five, and two fish."  Then He commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass.  So they sat down in ranks, in hundreds and in fifties.  And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fish He divided among them all.  So they all ate and were filled.  And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fish.  Now those who had eaten the loaves were about five thousand men.   Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away.  And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray. 

 Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and he was alone on the land.  Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them.  We recall from yesterday's reading (above), that we have been given a complete day in the life of Christ's ministry, and this is a continuation of that same day.  Jesus went to the mountain to pray by himself, after He sent His disciples into the boat to go to the other side, to Bethsaida, and also He had sent the crowds away who were fed in the wilderness.  Now it is finally evening, and the disciples are in the middle of the Sea of Galilee, while Jesus is still on the mountain.  Somehow He sees them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them.  Again, we have the image of the disciples in a boat on the sea, which by tradition has become an image of the Church.  My study bible points out that this is the second time Christ permits them to be caught in a storm see this reading for the first.

Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by.  And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were troubled.  But immediately He talked with them and said to them, "Be of good cheer!  It is I; do not be afraid."  Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased.  And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled.  For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.  The fourth watch of the night is about 3:00 in the morning.  The first time Christ permitted them to be caught in a storm at sea He was with them.  But this time they are alone.  It is by nature a time in the dark of the very early morning when human beings feel vulnerable.  We can imagine their fright at seeing Him!  But in this way, by allowing them a time to cross the sea alone, He strengthens their faith that He will always be with them in the midst of the storms of life, as my study bible puts it.  It is I is literally translated "I Am," which is the divine Name of God (see John 8:58, Exodus 3:14).  My study bible suggests that Christ reminds the fearful disciples of His absolute and divine authority over their lives.  The text suggests that their human limitations prevent them from understanding about the multiplication of the loaves in the wilderness (yesterday's reading, above), and they have failed to spiritually "take in" the miraculous nature of that feeding.  My study bible comments that knowing Christ is a matter of the heart, not simply of the intellect.  It notes that when our hearts are illumined by faith in God, we are open to receive God's presence and grace.  In the ascetic writings of the Church, the heart is known as "the seat of knowledge."

When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there.  And when they came out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, ran through that whole surrounding region, and began to carry about on beds those who were sick to wherever they heard He was.  Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment.  And as many as touched Him were made well.   Christ permits miracles through touch, my study bible says, to show that His very body is life-giving.  We are reminded of the woman with the blood flow in 5:25-29, who was healed by touching the hem of His garment.  Once again, we witness that God's grace may work through the created things of the world, an affirmation of the Incarnation itself.

If we look up the name of Gennesaret, we'll find that at its root is the Hebrew word for "garden."  It may mean "prince's garden."  Whatever the meaning, it was known as a place of incredible fertility, both of the soil for agriculture and of the water for fishing.  In the image of the sick laying in the marketplaces for healing by Christ -- and that as many as touched Him were made well -- we get a kind of image of tremendous fruitfulness of faith in this Prince, the Prince of Peace, the Son of God.  They are the abundance of the harvest of faith.  As Christ repeatedly instructs the disciples to cross back and forth over the Sea of Galilee, as He travels from one place to another, we find this harvest where there is faith, and that it is lacking where there is no faith.  Whatever power and accomplishments Christ is able to use and have at His own authority, it will only work where there is a corresponding receptiveness in human beings, a kind of understanding of the heart.  Today's text truly points us to the heart, as we're told that the apostles still fail to understand about the feeding in the wilderness, as their heart was hardened.  In modern understanding, we tend to think only of the brain as a center of knowledge and intelligence, facts and understanding.  But in the ancient sense of the word, the heart is the center of a person, and unites every part of us.  As my study bible points out, faith is more than intellectual understanding.  There is a different kind of knowing and understanding connected to soul and spirit.   It is this heart-knowing that is so seemingly extraneous to a modern mindset, one that accepts what is popularly considered to be "scientific" in outlook.  But this, I would suggest, is even a poor concept of what science is.  Science works on hypothesis, on seeking what has been as yet unproved.  It depends upon forward movement into mystery in order to expand knowledge.  What is popularly called "scientific," that is, accepting only that which has been conclusively proven using particular methods, isn't really scientific at all, as it excludes the understanding that what we don't yet know will always have an impact on what truly "is," and that without that knowledge our own information will remain incomplete.  Moreover, scientific and mathematical proofs frequently rely upon assumptions in order to work -- and one may ask, what are assumptions if not a kind of faith?  To exclude this knowing of the heart and the role of the heart or center or ourselves in understanding -- and even of ourselves as human beings -- is to work with incomplete knowledge, to be deficient in our perception of the cosmos and our places in it.  It is to be lacking in our own fullness of expression and comprehension, our capabilities for understanding.  To have a hardened heart is to fail to perceive the things of the heart, including faith and love.  It is a self-limiting experience, a decision to be blind or deaf in a particular sense.  The Scriptures teach us that to live a truly full life, in an awareness of life and reality itself that is not limited by our own refusal to take in what is before us and offered to us, we need to include this perception of the heart to be fully ourselves and to use the capacities with which we are created in God's image and likeness.  We must be able to take in the things of God to participate in life fully, as we were created to do.  We clearly have the choice, and it is a question of growth in understanding and the fullness of maturity to be all that we can be and not limited through prejudice or false teachings about anything.  We are creatures made for growth, meant to be always asking, seeking, and knocking.  If we are truly to understand our faith, we are meant to grow in understanding in all kinds of ways, with nothing left out of this equation of who we are as human beings and how we can develop our capacities for intelligence of all kinds.  This is what it means to be truly balanced.  The Gospels give us the struggles of the apostles to teach us all about our own lives, our fears, our capacity for trust in God, and particularly how service to God relies on our always asking, seeking, and knocking.  As they mature, so we are meant to mature -- with faith transfiguring everything that we have, even as we witness untrained fishermen becoming wise beyond the understanding of philosophers, articulate beyond the capacities of orators, and changing the world through their courageous missions and heroic martyrdom.  Let us consider all that we are, and neglect nothing of our possibilities through the faith that gives us real balance, and unites all the capacities within us.  It is in this struggle to fully realize who we are that we follow His instructions:  "Be of good cheer!  It is I; do not be afraid."

Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid

 Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land.  Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them.  Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by.  And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were troubled.  But immediately He talked with them and said to them, "Be of good cheer!  It is I; do not be afraid."  Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased.  And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled.  For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.

When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there.  And when they came out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, ran through that whole surrounding region, and began to carry about on beds those who were sick to wherever they heard He was.  Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment.  And as many as touched Him were made well.

- Mark 6:47-56

Yesterday, we read that having returned from their first mission, the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught.  And He said to them, "Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while."  For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.  So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves.  But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities.  They arrived before them and came together to Him.  And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd.  So He began to teach them many things.  When the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, "This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late.  Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat."  But He answered and said to them, "You give them something to eat."  And they said to Him, "Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?"  But He said to them, "How many loaves do you have?  Go and see."  And when they found out they said, "Five, and two fish."  Then He commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass.  So they sat down in ranks, in hundreds and in fifties.  And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fish He divided among them all.  So they all ate and were filled.  And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fish.  Now those who had eaten the loaves were about five thousand men. Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away.  And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray.

  Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land.  Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them.  We remember that Jesus has stayed behind for solitary prayer after dark on the mountaintop.  But somehow He sees the disciples straining at rowing on the sea.  The Gospel gives us another hint to Jesus' divinity, how His disciples are in His sight wherever they may be.

Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by.  And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were troubled.  But immediately He talked with them and said to them, "Be of good cheer!  It is I; do not be afraid."  Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased.  And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled.  For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.  The fourth watch of the night is about 3 o'clock in the morning.  One can imagine the impression made on the disciples!  Jesus' command, to be of good cheer, is really about courage or confidence in the Greek.  This story gives us several divine attributes of Christ:  His all-seeing capacity regarding His disciples, defying the elements by walking on the water, and the ceasing of the elements of the storm.   We're given the hint that the disciples' hearts have been hardened to the apprehension of these capacities of Christ; they hadn't understood about the bread in the wilderness (see yesterday's reading, above).  The hardening of the heart is a kind state of denial, an unwillingness or inability to take in or be aware of something.  My study bible tells us that knowing Christ, as a matter of the heart, is not merely an intellectual process.  It says, "When our hearts are illumined by faith in God, they are open to receive His presence and grace.  In the ascetic writings of the Church, the heart is known as the 'seat of knowledge.'"

When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there.  And when they came out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, ran through that whole surrounding region, and began to carry about on beds those who were sick to wherever they heard He was.  Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment.  And as many as touched Him were made well.  I find it really interesting that this healing happens in the marketplaces.  The ultimate offering of Christ is healing; everything in His divine capacity works for healing; grace is healing.  It's like the environment of the marketplace in this story offers substitution for our usual material way of thinking, so that we see what Christ has brought.  The "exchange" in this marketplace is our brokenness for His healing.  Again, the divine qualities of Christ are available here for all.  My study bible says that Christ permits miracles through touch to show that His very body is life-giving.  It is also telling us of the faith now in these many who come to him.

I think that probably there has been a great deal of commentary on Jesus' statement "Be of good cheer!  It is I; do not be afraid."   What is translated as "good cheer" is from a word that means to "take courage" or to be emboldened, infused with energy (for a mission or task), to take heart.  There is a kind of confidence in faith that is inexplicable.  We can see it in the Mary, the Mother of God, who takes up a challenge in faith when she is presented with the good news of the Annunciation.  We can see it grow in these apostles or disciples to whom Jesus has said these words.  They've just gone out on their first apostolic mission.  There will be, as we know, many more, in growing conditions of change, of hostility and strangeness, and of course in the mission of the Church that will continue after Christ's Ascension, and after Pentecost.  But this is where we stop to really think hard about our faith.  How does grace fill us with a kind of courage or resolution that doesn't really make a lot of sense?  How does our faith give us confidence we don't have otherwise?  I don't think we can explain these mysteries.  I don't think they happen through a mere intellectual process.  Christ's assuring presence in "Be of good cheer!  It is I; do not be afraid" is like His presence in prayer.  We don't pray in a monologue; prayer is a dialogue.  God is with us; we speak and we also must listen, even when there is a silence which is not empty, but full.  We open our hearts for this; what we understand or grasp is with the full center of our being, not just an intellectual process.  Thus, the "hardness" of the apostles' hearts is battered with His presence on the water and in their boat.  Faith is that heart-emboldening, warming thing that happens when grace meets our capacity to grasp and to take in, to comprehend.  We go back to the mystical teaching at the beginning of John's Gospel to think further about this mystery of the heart:  "The light shines in the darkness; and the darkness did not comprehend it"  (John 1:5).   This word, comprehend, is a good translation from the Greek.  It's a word that means both to understand, and to take in.  Knocking at the door of our hearts is the presence and mystery of Jesus Christ, fully God who has also been fully human.  We need our hearts to take Him in, to understand, to embrace the grace that offers us the inexplicable in ourselves:  courage to do the things He calls us to do, a capacity for forgiveness we might not have known we have, an understanding of love and the courage to live in an expanding truth.  These are the realities of the heart to which Christ calls when He says to be of good cheer, to be bold, to have courage, strength, confidence -- faith, if you will.  They are words for all of us all the time, more powerful with experience, perhaps particularly so in the early hours of darkness before dawn.