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.

Mark 6:49-50

Mark 6:45-52

Reflection

After feeding the five thousand, Jesus makes his disciples go ahead of him in a boat while he stays behind and prays. During the night, he sees them being tossed about by the wind while walking on the water. Intending to pass them by, the disciples see Jesus and think he is a ghost, so Jesus calls out and tells them to not be afraid. He gets into the boat with them and the wind dies down, but they are astounded and their hearts are hardened.

Jesus does something astonishing – he walks on water, yet his disciples’ hearts are hardened. They don’t seem to understand what exactly Jesus is doing and were clearly terrified when they thought he was a ghost walking towards them. Sometimes we too experience an encounter with Christ or a miracle, and are afraid.

While we should rejoice and grow in faith, these events might harden our hearts if we are confused or scared. In moments that stretch our faith, we must remember that Christ wants to strengthen our faith, not break it. In confusion or misunderstanding, we can ask the Holy Spirit to guide us, revealing the truth we are meant to see. How can you grow in your faith today?

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Saint of the Day

St. Raymond of Peñafort: 1175 – 1275

“May you never be numbered among those whose house is peaceful, quiet and free from care; those on whom the Lord’s chastisement does not descend; those who live out their days in prosperity, and in the twinkling of an eye will go down to hell.” St. Raymond