Today's gospel picks up from yesterday's story about feeding the five thousand. The disciples had returned tired and hungry from being away on ministry and Jesus had taken them away for rest. We read, too, that it did not work out that way. Jesus had a change of plans. I wonder how that went over with the tired disciples. I wonder, too, if the suggestion that Jesus dismiss the crowd to find food may have come from human weariness; the sooner the crowd left, the sooner we get our rest. I don't imagine Jesus' response - feed them yourselves - went over too well as they saw themselves going into the cities to shop. Perhaps, a little tension in the air?
In today's reading, Jesus let them go early. I suspect it was midafternoon since Jesus was back to the beach by evening. There, he saw the disciples being tossed about by the wind. Yet, he did not leave till the last watch, between 3am-6am. That meant the disciples were on the sea about 12 hours! They were having a very bad day and night. Yet, Jesus had no plan to rescue them. Actually, he meant to pass them by. Why? I don’t know. What do you think?
In the end, Jesus does respond, but not to their weariness and frustration. It was their cries of fear that caused Jesus to stop at once. I believe we all know that fear can hold us back, making us less effective ministers. John's reading tells us that fear has to do with punishment. Even with the certainty of eternal life, we have fears. We are especially susceptible when we are tired and having a very bad day. John gives us hope with his words that perfect love drives out fear. As we grow in our spiritual life let us pray always for an increase of love so that our fears decrease. Until that time when we are fearless, ha!, we can cry out to Jesus knowing that he will respond at once and not pass us by.