At noon on Sunday, August 13, several hundred pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square to listen to the address of Pope Francis and receive his apostolic blessing.
Silvija Krivteža – Vatican
Jesus gives us courage and reminds us that we are not alone in the troubled waters of our lives. He is with us and can save us, defeating our evil, weakness and fear, – said the Holy Father in his address before the prayer “Angel of the Lord”
Peter, getting out of the boat, walked on the surface of the sea to Jesus, but when he saw the strong wind, he was afraid and, starting to sink, cried out: “Lord, save me!” The Pope encouraged us to cry out in the storms of our lives: “Lord, save me!”
The Holy Father explained a passage from the Gospel of Matthew, which describes an unusual event. Jesus walks along the Sea of Galilee at night to meet his disciples (cf. Mt 14, 22-33). In the Gospel we read: “Jesus ordered the disciples to get into the boat and cross to the other side”. Why did He do this? To show them your might and power? But this is not characteristic of the Teacher. So why did He do it? – asked the Pope.
There is a message hidden in the event of walking on water. At that time, the expanses of water were considered the abode of evil forces that man could not control. The depths of storm-tossed waters symbolized chaos and resembled the darkness of the underworld. Now the disciples are in the middle of the lake in the dark of night: they are afraid to sink, they are afraid to fall under the power of evil forces. And here Jesus comes to them, who walks on the surface of the water, that is, over the evil forces, and comforts the disciples: “Be safe! It is I. Do not be afraid!” (27).
In the presence of the Lord, the power of the terrifying evil forces is shrinking. He, walking on the surface of the water, wants to tell us: “Fear not, for I have made your enemies your footstool!” It is not about people, but about death, sin and the evil spirit. Jesus conquers all enemies for us, Francis added.
Today, Christ repeats to each of us: “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!”. Be safe because I am here, because you are no longer alone in the troubled waters of life. What should we do when we are on the open sea and caught in the wind? What should we do when we are paralyzed with fear, seeing darkness all around us, and we are desperate? Just two things. And the disciples are an example for us. They call and receive Jesus.
They call for help. Peter walks on the surface of the water, goes to Jesus, but when he sees the strong wind, he gets scared and, starting to sink, he cries out: “Lord, save me!” (v. 30). It is a beautiful prayer that expresses confidence that the Lord can save us, that He conquers our evil and fear. Let us repeat it too, especially during the “storm”: “Lord, save me!”
They take Jesus into their boat. The Gospel says that as soon as He got into the boat, “the wind died down” (32). The Lord knows that our boat of life, like the boat of the Church, is threatened by contrary winds, and that the sea in which we sail is often very turbulent. Jesus does not free us from the fatigue of rowing, but encourages us to go, that is, He invites us to face difficulties so that they become places of salvation, an opportunity to meet Him, to experience the grace of His presence. In fact, in the darkest moments of our lives, He comes to meet us, asking us to receive Him, like that night on the Sea of Galilee.
The Pope, as usual, invited questions: How do I act in moments of fear? Do I go alone, struggle with my own strength, or do I call on the Lord? And what is my faith? Do I believe that Jesus Christ is stronger than the high waves and adverse winds? But most importantly, am I rowing with Him? Do I accept Him, do I give Him a place in the boat of my life, do I entrust the rudder to Him? May the Virgin Mary, Star of the Sea, help us to see the light of Jesus in the dark moments of our lives.
2023-08-14 11:33:27
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