Failing to See

Gospel: Mark 6: 45=52

The disciples had seen Jesus perform a remarkable miracle to feed people.  Yet, today's Gospel portion notes that they failed to see and understand the meaning of the events of Jesus.  Recall that they themselves were unwilling to provide funds to feed the people at that event, relying instead on asking Jesus for such help.  They were gripped by fear of what spending that money on feeding people might do to their plans for that money.

While at sea in today's scene the disciples see Jesus walking on the water, and again they are gripped by fear at the sight of the Lord, even though he came to them with the intention of calming their fears.  It is fear that prevents them from understanding, from seeing Jesus for who he actually is, from being generous in caring for other people.  Authentic discipleship cannot be based on fear; it can only arise from loving kindness and mercy.  

We say that Jesus is manifest in the person of other people, but we act otherwise.  We have created an entire culture of mistrust of others with our stockade fences, alarm systems, walls of exclusion, and the like.  We create entire institutions of exclusion to warehouse people we do not want to see or interact with: prisons, detention facilities, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities.  Today let us go to them that we might see Christ manifest in the world today, to bring and receive light with them.