Reassurance

Even though He had just fed thousands of people with just a little bread and some fish, Jesus knew His disciples still had a long way to go to understand His core message of absolute trust in Him.  He let them stay on the rough sea until it was near dawn, “the fourth watch of the night”.  Then he passed them by until they revealed their primitive fears in shouts and a delusion of Christ being a ghost.  But at the right moment, He calmed them, reassured them: “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” (Mark 6:45-52)

The demands of our faith are great.  We’re called to discipleship, to be ambassadors for Christ in a world crying out in fear, including our own fears.  The pandemic, the political and racial divisions, the ever-widening gap between the elite and the masses, the destruction of our climate, water, topsoil, and species of life, the chemical addictions, mental and physical illnesses, and the destruction of networks of charity and fellowship all are occasions to panic in our tiny boats and become delusional.

But the demand of our God is all encompassing and true: “Take courage. It is I; do not be afraid.”

To step back from the excessive stimulations about us, the noise that breeds confoundment, is essential for the grace of God’s presence to transform our hearts.  In God’s wisdom we’re cared for every moment of our lives.  We need not panic.  Christ offers the peace we seek at our deepest levels.

Perhaps a few moments of silence today will open a space for God to comfort and reassure us that He is upholding us right now, according to His promise.  We are alive.  And God won’t confound us in our expectations.