Friends,
in today’s Gospel Jesus demonstrates his authority over nature by
walking on the sea. Water is, throughout the Scriptures, a symbol of
danger and chaos. At the very beginning of time, when all was a formless
waste, the spirit of the Lord hovered over the surface of the waters.
This signals God’s lordship over all of the powers of darkness and
disorder.
In
the Old Testament the Israelites are escaping from Egypt, and they
confront the waters of the Red Sea. Through the prayer of Moses, they
are able to walk through the midst of the waves.
Now
in the New Testament, this same symbolism can be found. In all four of
the Gospels, there is a version of this story of Jesus mastering the
waves. The boat, with Peter and the other disciples, is evocative of the
Church, the followers of Jesus. It moves through the waters, as the
Church will move through time.
All
types of storms—chaos, corruption, stupidity, danger, persecution—will
inevitably arise. But Jesus comes walking on the sea. This is meant to
affirm his divinity: just as the spirit of God hovered over the waters
at the beginning, so Jesus hovers over them now.
Saturday of the Second Week of Easter
Lectionary: 272
As the number of disciples continued to grow,
the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews
because their widows
were being neglected in the daily distribution.
So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said,
"It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table.
Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men,
filled with the Spirit and wisdom,
whom we shall appoint to this task,
whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer
and to the ministry of the word."
The proposal was acceptable to the whole community,
so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit,
also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas,
and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism.
They presented these men to the Apostles
who prayed and laid hands on them.
The word of God continued to spread,
and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly;
even a large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith.
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.
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