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BUT WHEN they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw him, and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; have no fear." [Mk 6:49-50]

Artist: Victor Luciano Rebuffo

(1903 - 1983)

Buenos Aires, Argentina

BACK TO THE BOAT [1]

AS IF ON DRY LAND

1. Jesus walked across the Sea of Galilee as if he were on dry land. This event, magnified by the disciples exhaustion and panic, engraved itself indelibly in the mind of the early Christians long before the four gospels were written. The evangelist Mark committed this event to writing because it illustrates the complexities of faith and offers the Church's members guidance in relating to God during difficult situations.

2. Recall that Jesus and his disciples had separated. They were to get into their boat and go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. He would follow later, after having gone up to the mountain alone to pray. But the disciples, fighting against severe and unpredictable weather, could not navigate the sea. By three o'clock in the morning they remained several hundred yards from shore. The apostles were frightened and worn out, but their ordeal was not over.

MIDST OF WIND AND WAVE

3. In the cold darkness, in the midst of wind and wave, they saw what they believed to be a phantom walking toward them on the water. This manifestation of death was more than they could bear: "They thought it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw him, and were terrified." [Mk 6:49-50] Mark's gospel offers a powerful instruction on the significance of the boat. The boat represents Christ's gathered Church journeying through time and turbulent events.^[2] Though he cannot remain with them always, he is very near. Christ is always nearer than we think. Interestingly, the Latin word for ship is navis.

4. In the history of church architecture, the nave refers to the large main portion of the church, apart from the sanctuary. The boat (nave, Barque of Peter) shelters the Lords steadfast disciples who gather in fellowship and worship in the midst of the storm. Mark focuses less on the disciples destination than on the perilous journey itself and their immersion in trial. The gathered Church shares the struggle of these frightened men whose faith is neither perfect nor absent. The disciples grow afraid. They yield to their deepest fears. Stunned by an appearance of Christ in a way they are least prepared to recognize, Peter and his friends yield to a wave of terror.

LEAVING THE COMMUNITY

5. Jesus, still some distance away from the boat, calls out to them. He takes command of the distressing situation and calms them with his familiar voice. He intends to reassure them with love and firmness^[3]: "Take heart, it is I, have no fear!" [Mk 6:50] The story of Peter departing the boat to walk on water--leaving the gathered community!--is unique to Matthew's gospel. Impulsive, even provocative, Peter seeks to ride the wave of the Lord's authority over wind and water. [cf. Mk 4:41]

6. Jesus permits him to try as a means for his instruction.^[4] Predictably Peter, surrenders to the power of the wind and waves about him and forfeits the power of Christ within him and ahead of him. And worried about many things^[5], he falters, sinks and begins to drown. At times a splendid representation of human weakness, Peter personifies men of sincere intentions but little faith. [cf. Mt 14:31] Peter voices our own weakness and abject confusion.

CALMING HIS DISCIPLE

7. He cries out, "Lord, save me!"^[6] [Mt 14:30] Jesus answers Peter and in so doing speaks to all future generations of believers in the Church. He consoles us with his presence. He admonishes us for indulging fear and paralysis: "O man of little faith, why did you doubt?"^[7] [Mt 14:31] Our Lord's first response is to calm his disciple not the storm. After stretching out his hand and delivering us from pride or peril, where does Jesus take us?

8. Back to the boat, the pilgrim Church, the gathered community, the nave! When we climb back into the boat, that is, the Church, the power of the elements and the elemental spirits is broken. The turbulence of our heart subsides; our immersion in trial will not end in futility. The peace of the Lord which came to rest in the hearts of the disciples inspires us to imitate their reverence. May we join the apostles and the saints, the angels and the whole company of heaven in the proclamation of gospel praise: "Truly, you are the Son of God!" [Mt 14:33]

^[1] Wednesday after Epiphany /Weekday Lectionary Years I and II /Mk 6:45-52.

^[2] Cf VATICAN COUNCIL II, Lumen Gentium, no. 14 (1964). "This holy Council first of all turns its attention to the Catholic faithful. Basing itself on scripture and tradition, it teaches that the Church, a pilgrim now on earth, is necessary for salvation; The one Christ is mediator and the way of salvation; he is present to us in his body which is the Church."

^[3] Cf John Paul II, CROSSING THE THRESHOLD OF HOPE (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1995) 218-219. "When, on October 22, 1978, I said the words 'Be not afraid!' in St. Peters Square, I could not fully know how far they would take me and the entire Church. Their meaning came more from the Holy Spirit, the Consoler promised by the Lord Jesus to His disciples, than from the man who spoke them. Nevertheless, with the passing of the years, I have recalled these words on many occasions."

^[4] As an opportunity to reveal his saving power and grace.

^[5] "But Martha was distracted with much serving; and she went to him and said, 'Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.' But the Lord answered her, 'Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.'" [Lk 10:40-42]

^[6] Cf Psalm 69:2-3, 14-15.

^[7] Cf St. Therese of Lisieux, ST. THERESE OF LISIEUX: HER LAST CONVERSATIONS, ed. and trans. John Clarke OCD, (Washington, DC: ICS, 1977) 142. "Many souls say: 'I don't have the strength to accomplish this sacrifice.' Let them do, then, what I did: exert a great effort. God never refuses that first grace that gives one the courage to act; afterwards, the heart is strengthened and one advances from victory to victory."

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