2nd Monday of Lent (March 2). Continue to believe

Prepare to Listen.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it.
 
Prayerfully Read John 6:15-21 (or vv. 1-21 if you’re unfamiliar with this story)
15When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.  16When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 
17got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum.  It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.  18The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing.  19When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were terrified.  20But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.”  21Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land toward which they were going.
 
Prayerfully Wonder
“That you may continue to believe,” (Jn 20:31) is John’s purpose and thus we read about Jesus’ disciples’ journey to maturing belief.  It’s always a journey.  We may begin confidently, as the disciples did, but early belief is immature and, unless it matures, we’ll falter.  This sea story is one of the many steps in the disciples’ journey to a maturing faith.
 
When the 5000 who were fed by Jesus wanted to take him by force and make him king, Jesus, without a word, withdrew up the mountain by himself.  When night fell and he failed to return to the disciples, they got in the boat and headed back to Capernaum.  Night grew dark and a storm came over, a symbolic image of their experience of Jesus’ absence.  Perhaps you understand such an experience in your life.
 
Half way across the sea “they saw Jesus walking on the sea.”  It wasn’t a ghost.[1]  They knew him, yet “they were terrified.”  No human had ever walked on water before.  Their belief in Jesus was shaken.  They didn’t expect him to act in ways impossible to humans. Still, despite their fear, “They wanted to take him into the boat.”  To take is the same Greek verb as in John 1:12: “to all who received him” he gave power to become children of God.  They wanted and did receive him, a significant step in their journey to continue to believe.  They immediately arrived at Capernaum, a sign they’d received power to become God’s children and their faith continued to mature.
 
Reflect on your journey to faith.  What have been the markers that helped mature your belief, your deepening your trust in Jesus?
 
Prayerfully Respond
Lord, help me see you more clearly and thus desire to receive you in all I do today.  Amen.
 
Live obediently.  Continue to believe.
[1] As in both Matthew 14:22-27; Mark 6:45-52.