Another Thought for Wednesday, January 9

Mark 6:45-52
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Is our Gospel today about water-walking? Proof that Jesus is the Divine Son of God?

Maybe the real miracle in this story is not that Jesus walks on the water – we assume God can defy human logic and abilities – but that He climbs into the boat. That He huddles next to His terrified friends – just as cold and wet from the storm, just as human – and settles in to show once again that He is Emmanuel: God-with-us.

So, too, for us today. When a friend receives a dark diagnosis, Jesus climbs into the boat with us. When we strain under the weight of our responsibilities, Jesus climbs into the boat with us. When the winds of violence and evil and despair whip around us so cold and biting that we can barely breathe, Jesus climbs into the boat with us. And as the wind slowly quiets down, we remember the strength of a God who sits beside us, whose very presence calms storms.

As we settle into the New Year, still exhausted from the holiday whirlwind, still raw from the dark tragedies of last December, still straining because the wind is always against us, God is still walking out towards us, steady as always, calming us not to be afraid. Yes, our hearts are hardened again; no, we haven’t understood all that Jesus was trying to teach us. But maybe, as we remember that God never abandons us, as our terror turns again to amazement, maybe this time we will take courage. Maybe this time we will understand the miracle of presence. His presence.