Today Jesus gives us an opportunity to discover a lot about ourselves, and our life here on earth. The Gospel talks about the meaning of life, our faith, and salvation. It speaks about what it means to be a Christian.

Jesus and His disciples are in a boat in a big storm. Just as in our life’s journey we also encounter uncertain times and even very bad storms.

Whenever we go on a journey, God always wants us to know that He is with us. In His love He has a plan for us. He gives us the church, which is symbolized by the boat. This is a place where we can find the peace and protection we need when we are in danger and don’t know what to do.

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When we are in danger we call out for help. Because of our prayer for help in faith, Jesus comes to us, as He did to the apostles, by walking on water, holding out His hand and giving us the help we need.

In the scriptures we hear that Jesus often stretches out His hand to help. He heals the dead daughter of Jairus. He heals the blind man. In the Resurrection icon, we see the Risen Lord stretching out his hand to Adam and Eve who are a symbol of all of us sinful children, to bring them back from hades. His hand is the hand of help and salvation.

When we are baptized, we are called to be God’s children, and we receive His “Grace”. St Paul says in Ephesians (2.8), “By grace you are saved in faith”.

Being a Christian is not like a struggle similar to climbing a high mountain. It is more like walking down an uncertain and dangerous road holding the hand of our loving friend, Jesus Christ- a friend who promised that He would be with us till the end of time despite the uncertainties and storms.

Faith is more than just tipping our hat to God out of respect. It is trusting Him and following Him to the fullest, despite the storms of life.

The essence of our faith as Christians is that we belong to the Lord, we are united with the Christ, and nothing can ever separate us from Our Saviour’s promises

There might be times when we might be too weak to hold on the hand of God. God understands that. In faith we know that God will always hold on to our hand and will never let us go. Jesus tells us, “It is I. Do not be afraid”. (Verse 28)

Jesus wants us to know that He will never abandon us. Jesus loves the world so much that He tells His apostles who are in the boat (church), to go and tell the whole world about the salvation and protection available from God. People need help to be free and to be saved. In faith we, who are His disciples today, have to work out how we are going to do this. Our faith asks us to do it.

The essence of our faith as Christians is that we belong to the Lord, we are united with the Christ, and nothing can ever separate us from Our Saviour’s promises. We may feel alone, we may be confused, we may sense that we are in deep water and the waves are encircling us, but we have Our Lord’s promise that we shall never be abandoned.

Bishop Peter Stasiuk C.Ss.R. AM