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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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