By Tarsish Marak csc –
Readings: Jn 4:11-18; Mk 6:45-52
The love of Jesus is within me. Therefore, he assures me that ‘it is I, do not be afraid’. Love binds people together; love gives assurance of faith to believe, love gives courage, and helps people to accept them. St. John says, ‘God is love, and whoever lives in love, lives in union with God and God lives in union with him.’ The readings invite me to live a life of love with courage.
Jesus assures that he is my everything, he gives the courage to stand for the needs of the people. Many times, even I failed to stand for my own rights, so how will I stand for the rights of other people?
In life, with so many challenges and difficulties, how do I identify my own rights and those of others? Will I be silent? Jesus invites me to wake up to whatever situation one might be in, to be courageous and not be afraid. God says, ‘fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Fear is one of Satan’s most popular weapon that he uses to keep away from god. Let us seek God’s guidance in our lives and pray to eliminate fear from our lives and ask him to bestow on us the grace of courage that we need. Let us be strong in our faith and say to ourselves that it is I who live in God’s hand. “Fear not, I am with you.”