Word to the Wise
Saturday, April 29, 2017 - 2nd Week of Easter - Sat
[Acts 6:1-7 and John 6:16-21]"It is I. Do not be afraid." [John]
"Walking on water," has almost become a caricature statement for anyone who thinks they are great. I suppose this is because such an action engages the imagination. Because of this, it almost obscures the importance of the multiplication of loaves and fishes which this incident immediately follows. Furthermore, the "bread of life" discourse will follow this. The tradition was strong enough, however, for the evangelist to include it in his portrait of Jesus.
We would have to put ourselves in the position of the disciples in the boat to understand the impact of Jesus' action. The multiplication of the loaves and fishes was striking enough, but walking on water was an eerie thing in the midst of a rough sea. Fear was an appropriate reaction. In one of the other gospel accounts, Peter challenges Jesus and receives a challenge in return and learns how fear is an obstacle to doing things that Jesus can help us to do. [Matt. 14:22-33]
One of the strongest virtues of Catherine of Siena was her courage. She did not hesitate to challenge pope or pauper and traveled at the risk of her life to mediate conflicts between Italian city states and to confront the pope in Avignon. She berated the Master of the Order of Preachers for cowardice. Yet, she was also a mystic, and her DIALOGUES are a classic of spiritual literature.
All the scriptures in this time feature courage to preach about Jesus. Whether it be one of the disciples at that time or in the time of Catherine of Siena or in our time, we should remember Jesus' words, "It is I. Do not be afraid." AMEN
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