Mark 8:1-11: Nothing to Fear
Friday, August 29, 2025
The Gospel writers tell us that Jesus feeds thousands from a few fish and several loaves of bread; yet we store up food and goods against the fear that we will one day be without. Famine grips the horn of Africa and war zones while the people who live in these places of death wait on the generosity of others. And despite the abundance in which others live, these images stir some to sharing and others to hoarding. In either case, we fear that we will one day be without. Today’s Mass readings deal with the intense fear that seizes us when cataclysm strikes and we fear the worst. The homily we heard at Mass today was moving. Father reminded us that although we seek physical signs of God’s presence, we do not see the markers God constantly posts along the route of our journey. Fear has the effect of eliminating sight and reason.
In 1 Kings 19:9a-13a, Elijah hides in a cave, fearing that Queen Jezebel’s men will find him and execute him in the same way she has put to death other prophets. God calls to Elijah that it is time for him to come out of his hiding place. Go and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by. And Elijah hears the Lord not in the tumult of the storm or the crashing of the earthquake, but in the whisper of the gentle wind.
In Romans 9:1-5, Paul bears witness to God’s presence even though he suffers great anguish. Rather than succumb to fear, Paul continues to tell the good news story that Christ is risen and present. He persists in responding to God who first called him in the bolt of blinding light in Acts 9 when he says to him: Get up and go into the city, you will be told what you must do. Paul finds God in the blinding light.
In Matthew 14:22-23, the apostles become frightened during a storm that threatens to swamp their boat. Jesus walks toward them over the water and says: Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid. Peter gets out of the boat to walk toward Jesus but doubt overtakes him and he begins to sink. Immediately Jesus reaches to pull him to the water’s surface. Peter finds God in his willingness to risk the dangers of the storm-tossed waters.
God is constantly telling us that we need not be afraid . . . yet we cannot hear the voice for the cacophony of the world.
God is constantly showing us that God is with us . . . yet we cannot see God for the blinding confusion of the world.
God is constantly proving to us that God wants to heal and rescue us . . . yet we cannot feel God’s presence for the fears that we harbor.
Our daily experiences frighten us and so we ask God to give us a sign that God is present . . . forgetting that God already is. God feeds us daily.
We allow the details of living to stir up so much fear that we can no longer hear or see or touch the goodness and providence of God . . . and still God says to us: Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.
A re-post from August 7, 2011.
Images from: https://hearmehearmenot.wordpress.com/2008/11/08/silent-whispers/ and http://realiq.wordpress.com/2007/09/14/blinding-glimpse-of-the-obvious/ and http://raynoah.com/2011/04/14/water-walking-faith/ and http://jeffragan.blogspot.com/2010_11_01_archive.html
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