Saturday, May 14, 2005
CHRIST IS RISEN!
The Martyr Isidore of Chios
15th Vigil of Pascha: Daniel 3:1-23 Apostle: Acts 5:21-32 Gospel: St. John 6:14-27
St. John 6:14-27, especially vs. 27: "Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which
endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him." Seven
'signs' form the first half of St. John's Gospel. The fourth of these signs is the feeding of the five thousand, which occurs
immediately before today's reading (Jn. 6:1-13). Today's selection begins and ends with encounters between the Lord and
the multitude He had just fed (vss. 14,26,27). So enthralled were the people at His power that they sought to "take Him by
force to make Him king" (vs. 15).
Between the two encounters, St John tells of the disciples rowing toward Capernaum, of the Lord's "walking on the sea and
drawing near the boat" (vs. 19), the fifth of the Evangelist's seven signs. How do these two events interlace?. Was the
walking on the sea simply a separate miracle performed in transit, or is there a connection between it and the efforts of the
crowd?
First, observe that this appearance of Christ during a storm on the sea of Galilee is the one, single sign of the seven that was
not 'public' in nature. It occurred solely between the Faithful and the Master. On the other hand, the feeding of the
multitude was the most public of the Lord's signs, involving the largest assembly of people ever to witness His powers.
Clearly, by coming to the Disciples during a storm, the Lord was conveying a message for the Church, a sign for all of us in
the community of the Faith. In comparing the two signs, one sees three truths: 1) there are far worse dangers for the
Church than the violence of nature. 2) In all circumstances of fearful potential, the Christian community should expect the
Lord to appear and should receive Him gladly. 3) God's purposes always are primary for the Church. When the Lord
came, it was night (vs. 17). The sea was being tossed by strong wind (vs. 18). Little progress had been made by human
effort at rowing (vs. 19). In St. Matthew and St. Mark's accounts of this event, we learn that the fear of the disciples
coalesced exactly when the Lord appeared, for they believed they were seeing a phantasm, a spirit of foreboding doom (Mt.
14:26; Mk. 6:49). So deluded, they were afraid for their lives (vs. 19). Next, notice that there really are two great
"disturbances" in the reading: 1) the violence of nature, and a mounting social uprising. Beside a storm on the sea, a
second, more ominous situation was developing. Large crowds were pursuing the Lord, mobs of people subjugated by the
Romans, people who wanted independence and would make Jesus their king, if necessary, by force (vs. 15). The storm at
sea functions as a type of this explosive social movement.
Notice where the Lord focuses His attention: on the inward peace of the disciples! His announcement, "It is I," reads
literally, "I Am." He declares His Divinity, which He then followed with an assurance, "Fear not!" (vs. 20). There are
worse dangers for the Church than violence in nature. Among these must be counted loss of trust in God. Fear should be
met by imploring the Lord to come among us: "O God, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance."
In this linking of natural and social disturbances, see Who was in charge. The crowds wanted Jesus as king. They were
ready to "take charge" and "make" Him their ruler, but the disciples in weakness were happy and overjoyed to receive Him
in their midst. Beloved, let us never lose heart nor give in to fear, but let us always declare: "Christ is among us." Above
all, let us never seek to impose our will on the Master. He is our King, and He will defend us. Rather, let us learn from
Him to live by His prayer: "Not as I will; but as Thou wilt" (Mt. 26:39).
O Lord direct our lives according to Thy commandments, sanctify our souls, hallow our bodies, correct our thoughts,
cleanse our minds; deliver us from all tribulation, evil and distress.