There Is No Fear In Love

The gospel passage for Wednesday, Jan. 9th. is taken from Mark's gospel Ch.6. It tells of that most extraordinary experience where Jesus' disciples encounter him walking on the sea. It tells us that they were terrified, thinking they were seeing a ghost. Then Jesus speaks: "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid." Jesus comes aboard their boat and it says, "...the wind ceased."

So much can be said of this event, but I was drawn to the First Reading for that day, taken from John's letter, 1Jo:4:11. where John tells us, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear". These two texts speak so well of our spiritual life. We choose to draw closer to Jesus in our lives and for a time a sense of peace and confidence fills us. Then comes a "storm", a time of trial. Like the disciples, we struggle with all that opposes us. We may well fear that we are once again alone, abandoned and in peril. Even the presence of Jesus in the midst of our trial is not recognised. How could it be true that my spiritual life is true and that Jesus is with me when I am suffering so?

John tells us that when we profess our faith in Jesus, we abide in him and he in us; that this gives us "boldness" to face these days of trial. The presence of a fearful doubting, tells us that we are still growing in our knowledge of God's love for us, "...which casts out fear". A bold and confident faith is yet a work in progress in us. St. Ignatius teaches us that these are tests that make our faith grow strong, so that no storm will shake us. And in good time, he will appear and we will hear his voice speak to us. "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid."