Daily Gospel Reflection
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January 9, 2019
After the five thousand had eaten and were satisfied,
Jesus made his disciples get into the boat
and precede him to the other side toward Bethsaida,
while he dismissed the crowd.
And when he had taken leave of them,
he went off to the mountain to pray.
When it was evening,
the boat was far out on the sea and he was alone on shore.
Then he saw that they were tossed about while rowing,
for the wind was against them.
About the fourth watch of the night,
he came toward them walking on the sea.
He meant to pass by them.
But when they saw him walking on the sea,
they thought it was a ghost and cried out.
They had all seen him and were terrified.
But at once he spoke with them,
“Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!”
He got into the boat with them and the wind died down.
They were completely astounded.
They had not understood the incident of the loaves.
On the contrary, their hearts were hardened.
I love to sail. But, as seen in today’s Gospel, sailing in stormy waters can arouse fears that challenge our faith, even in the presence of Jesus Christ.
After purchasing an old sailboat years ago, I was sailing on a warm October day alone on Lake Michigan. As evening approached, I prepared the boat to motor back to port. The winds picked up, creating “confused” waves that tossed the boat around erratically. My repeated attempts to start the old outboard motor were unsuccessful, and fear started to build inside me.
There were no other sailors out that I could call on for assistance. I could have called on the Coast Guard or sailed the boat back to port eventually, but fear was taking hold, and I wasn’t thinking clearly. I was frustrated that I found myself in this scary situation. So, I said a prayer to God asking for help overcoming my fear, and God did. I was able to repair the motor sufficiently to limp back to harbor.
What I learned that day has helped me navigate a much scarier issue the last few years. I was diagnosed with cancer in the fall of 2015. I went through treatment, and the cancer is now in remission, meaning it is gone but can return some day. Through the whole experience, fear has been, and continues to be, at the door of my consciousness.
As I learned that day on Lake Michigan, God always answers my prayer to be strong enough to carry the cross God wants me to carry. This prayer calms my fears. When you are confronted with one of life’s storms—big or small—today, pray to God to give you the strength to accept and carry the burden. And your fears, like those of the disciples, will also be calmed.
Prayer
God of all strength and consolation, you always hear those who cry out to you in their need. Though the world’s evils are many, never let your faithful people be overcome. Heal us with the bread of life and the cup of eternal salvation. Let your face shine upon us and we shall be saved. Grant this through Christ, our risen Lord. Amen.
Saint of the Day
Sts. Julian and Basilissa were a married couple living in Egypt during the third and fourth centuries. They lived very simply and dedicated their lives to caring for the poor and sick. They converted their home to a hospital, which was said to serve nearly 1,000 people at a time.
After Basilissa died, Julian continued in his good works. During a persecution of Christians by the Roman empire, he sheltered priests from being captured and tortured. He himself was caught and tortured before being beheaded. Many others, including priests in hiding, were arrested with him and also martyred, including seven brothers; a recent convert to Christianity named Anastasius; as well as a boy, Celsus, and his mother.
The relics of Sts. Anastasius, Celsus, and Julian rest in the Basilica reliquary chapel.
Sts. Julian and Basilissa, you were the married couple who gave everything to care for the poor and sick—pray for us!