Wednesday after Epiphany 2019 - Take Courage, I AM

Throughout Epiphany Week, the Gospel readings seem to emphasize the special identity of the Christ Child born at Christmas and adored by the magi at the Epiphany.  Monday we heard of him healing the sick, the paralyzed, the possessed.  Yesterday, we heard of him feeding five thousand with loaves and fishes.  Today, we hear of his mastery over the very powers of nature, the powers of creation—he walks on water.  He does what no man has ever done before.

At the sight of Jesus walking on the water, they thought it was a ghost, a phantasma, in the Greek. Why’d they think this? Living people typically don’t walk on water. St. Mark says, they were terrified at the sight, in fact, the Greek word there is anekraxan—they let out shrieks of terror.

But, their terror is transformed into complete astonishment when Jesus utters the words no good Jew would ever use to describe himself, in the Greek “Ego Eimi” I AM. Take Courage, I AM…Where in scripture do we find those holy words? At the burning Bush, when God revealed his divine name: I AM!  The Lord’s words here echo the divine words of consolation in the prophet Isaiah: “Fear not, I am with you; be not dismayed, I am your God”

The child born at Christmas is identified with the mighty God of the universe who is greater than our deepest fears. In the Gospel of Mark, it takes a while for the disciples to fully grasp who Jesus is, for them to allow Him to transform their fear into courage. Even at the end of this passage, Mark tells us, they didn’t understand his words, and even hardened their hearts.

It is not until Jesus’ great love is fully manifested upon the cross, in Mark’s Gospel, that terror, astonishment, misunderstanding, and fear, are fully transformed into courage for the spread of the Gospel. This is echoed in our first reading, when St. John tells us that “perfect love casts out fear.”
Christmas time, in which we are still engaged, urges us to reflect upon how the incarnation is part of the story of God’s great love for us, how God entered into a terrifying world, a world that hates him and is hostile toward him, in order to save us from hate, and fear, and sin, and death, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
 
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That our Holy Father and all the clergy may be filled with courage in preaching the full Gospel, especially in the face of opposition.
That Christians may know the presence and love of God when faced with fear and suffering for the sake of the Gospel.
That those who despair of God’s love for them, might discover the great love that casts out all fear.
For all who have fallen away from the Church, for those in mortal sin, for their conversion and the conversion of all hearts to Christ.
For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.
For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.
Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord