faith
you have any?
Recently, i kept coming across this bible passage. not once, not twice but three times. Matt 14:23-33. There is an important message in this passage : have faith. It was evening and the disciples were trying to cross the lake of Tiberias. Their boat was buffeted by a storm and the wind blew against them. They had already experienced a similar situation before (see Matt 8:23-27). At that time Jesus was with them on the boat. This time He had remained on land and had gone up to the mountain to pray.
But Jesus did not abandon them to the storm. He came down the mountain and went out to meet them, walking on the water. He tried to lift their spirits: "Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid"(Matt 14:27). Was it really true, or only an illusion? Peter, whowas doubtful, asked him for a sign: to also be able to walk on the water. Jesus called him over. Peter got out of the boat, but the menacing wind frightened him and he began to sink. Jesus then took him by the hand and said to him: "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?"
Even today Jesus continues to repeat these words to us every time we feel alone and powerless during the storms that often batter us. These may take the form of illnesses or difficult family situations, acts of violence, injustices that allow doubts to creep into our hearts, if not outright rebellion: "Why doesnt God see? Why doesnt he listen to me? Why doesnt he come to help me and intervene? Where is the God-Love I placed my faith in? Is he merely a ghost, an illusion?"
As he did with the fearful and incredulous disciples, Jesus continues to repeat:"Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid." And just as he came down from the mountain to be close to them in their difficulties, so now too he, the Risen Lord, continues to come into our lives and walk beside us, as our traveling companion. He never leaves us alone in our trials: he shares them with us. Perhaps we do not believe enough in him, and for this reason he repeats to us: "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?"
Besides being a reproof, these words are also an invitation to revive our faith. Jesus, while he was on earth made many promises. He said, for example: "Ask, and ye shall receive. that your joy may be full" (John 16:24); "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matt 6:33)
We can obtain everything but we need to believe in the love of God. Instead, we often worry as though we had to face life on our own, as if we were orphans without a Father. Much like Peter, we are more attentive to the turbulent waves that seem to swamp us, rather than to the presence of Jesus who is ready to take us by the hand.
If we stopped to analyse whatever hurts us - the problems and the difficulties - we would be overcome by fear, anguish, and discouragement. But we are not alone! We need to believe that there is Someone who takes care of us. We need to turn to Him! He is near to us even when we do not feel his presence. Lets believe in Him, lets trust Him and entrust ourselves to Him.
God bless you =)
