Gospel Reading: Jn 6:16-21
When it was evening, the disciples of Jesus went down to the sea, embarked in a boat, and went across the sea to Capernaum. It had already grown dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea was stirred up because a strong wind was blowing. 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.” They wanted to take him into the boat, but the boat immediately arrived at the shore to which they were heading.
IT IS I. DO NOT BE AFRAID
“It is I” in Greek is evgw, eivmi, ego eimi, “I AM,” the divine name revealed to Moses in Ex 3:14. The Johannine version of Jesus walking on the water recalls the Exodus event (cf Ex 14:15-29). Compared with the parallel stories in Mt 14:22-33 and Mk 6:45-52, only John narrates, “but the boat immediately arrived at the shore to which they were heading.” Jesus leads the disciples in a new exodus. While Moses led the Israelites from Egyptian slavery to freedom, now Jesus leads the disciples from the darkness of unbelief to the light of faith.
The transition from the observance of the Mosaic Law to the new commandment of love that Jesus teaches is not an easy one. Jesus assures the disciples not to be afraid to tread on the new path of freedom from the law to the spirit.
Paul explains this in his letter to the Romans, “For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has freed you from the law of sin and death” (Rom 8:2).
“Entrust your works to the Lord, and your plans will succeed” (Prv 16:3).
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SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord,” ST PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.