After the five thousand had eaten and were satisfied,
\nJesus made his disciples get into the boat
\nand precede him to the other side toward Bethsaida,
\nwhile he dismissed the crowd.
\nAnd when he had taken leave of them,
\nhe went off to the mountain to pray.
\nWhen it was evening, the boat was far out on the sea
\nand he was alone on shore.
\nThen he saw that they were tossed about while rowing,
\nfor the wind was against them.
\nAbout the fourth watch of the night,
\nhe came toward them walking on the sea.
\nHe meant to pass by them.
\nBut when they saw him walking on the sea,
\nthey thought it was a ghost and cried out.
\nThey had all seen him and were terrified.
\nBut at once he spoke with them,
\n\u201cTake courage, it is I, do not be afraid!\u201d
\nHe got into the boat with them and the wind died down.
\nThey were completely astounded.<\/em><\/strong><\/span>
\nThey<\/span><\/em><\/strong> had not understood<\/em><\/strong><\/span> the incident of the loaves.
\n<\/em><\/strong>On the contrary, their hearts were hardened<\/em><\/strong><\/span>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\nHere in the Year of the Lord 2020, we look on this Gospel scene already knowing the full truth that Jesus is God the Son. Furthermore, we confess that he rose bodily from the dead and ascended likewise into the invisible glory of heaven.<\/p>\n
We know the disciples who got into the boat did not yet have our faith and knowledge. So then, we can appreciate that after seeing what Jesus did:<\/p>\n
They were completely astounded.<\/em><\/strong><\/span>
\nThey<\/span><\/em><\/strong> had not understood<\/em><\/strong><\/span> the incident of the loaves.
\n<\/em><\/strong>On the contrary, their hearts were hardened<\/em><\/strong><\/span>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\nHowever, perhaps we don\u2019t appreciate our own need to recover a fresh and childlike openness to having Jesus leave us completely astounded<\/em><\/strong><\/span>.<\/p>\nPerhaps we forget that at times we also have not understood<\/em><\/strong><\/span> the meaning of everything Jesus does.<\/p>\nAnd, worst of all, we may be blind to moments when our own hearts were hardened<\/em><\/strong><\/span>.<\/p>\nThis reading is from the Holy Gospel according to Mark. Mark\u2019s Gospel preserves a memory that the disciples so poorly understood the person, identity, intentions, goals and teachings of Jesus.<\/p>\n
Reading Mark\u2019s Gospel, we do well to look humbly upon the disciples there as images of ourselves. We are disciples in need of heeding Jesus more closely.<\/p>\n
Taking that stance of lowliness, we open ourselves afresh to letting Jesus storm our hearts and leave us completely astounded. Doing so frees us to see that we have not understood<\/em><\/strong><\/span> him. Perhaps we may even recognize that our hearts were hardened<\/em><\/strong><\/span> to what he has been doing in our sight all along, especially if we were born and raised in the Catholic boat.<\/p>\nThat would be a good storm. Then the old Gospel might more fully come alive in our hearts, minds and deeds. Oh for such an epiphany!<\/p>\n
![\"Jesus](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/1276\/2020\/01\/JesusCalmsSea-JTissot-BrooklynMuseum-PublicDoman.png\")