"It is I!"

Ave Maria! This powerful painting, "Snow Storm -- Steam-Boat Off A Harbor's Mouth" by Joseph Mallord William Turner, could be an icon for today's gospel, Mark 6:45-52. The disciples were "far out on the sea...tossed about while rowing, for the wind was against them." Their distress turned into terror when they saw what they thought was a ghost walking towards them, and they cried out in fear. What sweet and blessed relief must have been theirs when they heard the voice of their Master immediately saying to them, "Take heart, it is I; have no fear!" And when Jesus got into the boat with them and the wind ceased, they were completely astounded. They had not understood the multiplication of the loaves and fishes that our Lord has just accomplished to feed the crowd of five thousand. They had not grasped the immensity of His power, the wideness of His mercy, the greatness of His compassion, the depths of His love. They had not really believed Him after all, they did not trust Him. Their hearts were hardened, the evangelist Mark relates, and so they faltered.

How like us! How like me! My heart, too, sometimes becomes hardened. Anxiety, cynicism, self-pity, doubt -- these are but a few of the many hardening agents that make my heart resistant to that perfect love of God which casts out fear (1 John 4:18). The evangelist John reminds us that "We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us" (1 John 4:16). Today I pray for myself and for all of us that we may remain in God's wondrous love and find therein our confidence and our joy.

God is for us a refuge and strength, a helper close at hand, in time of distress, so we shall not fear though the earth should rock, though the mountains fall into the depths of the sea; even though its waters rage and foam, even though the mountains be shaken by its waves. The Lord of hosts is with us: the God of Jacob is our stronghold. ~Psalm 46:2-4

P.S. For some odd reason, the link to this painting that I inserted above takes you to the home page for this Web site, so when you get there, go to the left frame and scroll down to Joseph Mallard William Taylor. Click there, then scroll down the page to "Snow-Storm -- Steam-Boat Off A Harbor's Mouth" to read more about this fabulous painting.