14/04/2024
*Saturday 13th April 2024 Daily Reflection and Meditation*
_Do not fear; trust in the Lord_
*Good morning!*
_“Do not be afraid!”_ Imagine yourself in the boat with the disciples at night, being tossed by the waves, surrounded by darkness. And then you see Jesus coming to you saying: _Do not be afraid._ Hear him tell you, "do not fear" in the darkest moments of your life and that He will never leave you alone. Hope and trust in Him, and let His saving act of Redemption transform your life forever.
*Have a blessed Saturday and Weekend*
SATURDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF EASTER YEAR B 2024
*"It is I, do not be afraid"* _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.” John 6:19–20_
*Readings: Acts 6:1-7. John 6:16-21*
On October 22, 1978, Pope Saint John Paul II was inaugurated as the 264th Catholic pope. During his homily, the Holy Father said, “Brothers and sisters, do not be afraid to welcome Christ and accept his power.” In his book, _Crossing the Threshold of Hope_ , which was written as a preparation for the new millenia, the Holy Father explained the following: “When pronouncing these words in St. Peter’s Square, I already knew that my first encyclical and my entire papacy would be tied to the truth of the Redemption. In the Redemption we find the most profound basis for the words “Be not afraid!”: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son” (cf. Jn 3:16). God wants us to conquer fear, worry, and anxiety. He wants us to trust in Him in all things and place all of our hope in Him.
Today we find the disciples in a boat, in the darkness of the night, battling against the winds and the waves. They are in the middle of the Sea of Galilee, struggling against the forces of nature. It's a situation that many of us can relate to—the feeling of being tossed around by the storms of life, unsure of what the outcome will be.
But then, they see Jesus walking on the water. Imagine that moment—fear and confusion turning into awe and wonder. Peter, ever impulsive and eager, calls out to Jesus, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." And Jesus simply says, "Come."
Peter steps out of the boat, onto the water, and begins to walk towards Jesus. For a moment, he defies the laws of nature, buoyed by his faith. But then, doubt creeps in. He takes his eyes off Jesus, looks at the storm around him, and begins to sink. "Lord, save me!" he cries out, and, immediately Jesus reaches out his hand and catches him.
We, too, are often confronted with storms in our lives—challenges, doubts, fears, and uncertainties. And like Peter, we are called to step out in faith, to trust in Jesus even when the winds are against us.
But we must also remember where Peter went wrong. When he focused on the storm instead of Jesus, he began to sink. How often do we do the same? We let our fears and anxieties overwhelm us, forgetting that Jesus is right there, reaching out to catch us when we fall.
Even in the midst of life's storms, we are called to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. When we feel like we're sinking, when the waves threaten to overwhelm us, we can cry out, "Lord, save me!" and know that He is there, ready to catch us.
Let us have the courage to step out of our comfort zones, to trust in God's presence even when we can't see the way forward clearly. It reminds us that faith isn't just a concept we talk about—it's a journey we live out every day.
May we remember today to keep our eyes on Jesus in the midst of life's storms. And may we find the courage to step out in faith, knowing that He is always there to catch us when we fall.
*Prayer:* _Lord, I thank You for coming into this world to save us. Thank You for the gift of the Redemption of the world. When I am tempted to fear and turn my eyes to the difficulties of the world, give me the grace I need to turn to You in hope and trust. Enter the storms of my life, dear Lord, and lift my burden of fear. Amen_
*Have a blessed weekend*
_Rev Fr Francis Wambua, SJ_
*Jesuits in South Sudan*
_(Nairobi-Kenya)_