Jesus has just taught people at great length and afterwards multiplied bread and fish in order to satisfy the hungry crowd. The next thing Jesus does is to get connected with his heavenly Father. He makes his disciples embark on boat to Bethsaida, while he secludes himself on the hill. We will not know what transpires in Jesus’ conversation with the Father, but we can imagine it to be an intimate moment of joy and thanksgiving. Jesus is on terra firma, on solid ground, because he continues to align himself to the direction that the Father will point to him.

The disciples, on the other hand, are navigating through troubled waters as they struggle against the high winds, with their compounded fear that they are seeing some ghost walking towards them. The mysterious figure is Jesus himself who, while in communion with God, is watching his disciples “from a distance” and comes to their assistance. He mollifies the disciples as they tremble in fear: “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid!” (v 50). After they have witnessed the multiplication of bread and fish fed to the hungry crowd, we will think that they could put their trust in Jesus, but sadly they do not comprehend the miracle. At times when we are submerged in darkness and as we contend with the storms in life, may we not forget our connection with Jesus and how he walks with us in this valley of tears. With the Lord as our shepherd to guide and comfort us, we shall not be afraid.

Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another. No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us.

This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us, that he has given us of his Spirit. Moreover, we have seen and testify that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world. Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him and he in God. We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us.

God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him. In this is love brought to perfection among us, that we have confidence on the day of judgment because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love.

“Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.”

After the five thousand had eaten and were satisfied, Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side toward Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. And when he had taken leave of them, he went off to the mountain to pray. When it was evening, the boat was far out on the sea and he was alone on shore. Then he saw that they were tossed about while rowing, for the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them. But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out. They had all seen him and were terrified. But at once he spoke with them, “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!” He got into the boat with them and the wind died down. They were completely astounded. They had not understood the incident of the loaves. On the contrary, their hearts were hardened.