First Reading (1 John 4,11-18).
Reading of the First Letter of Saint John.
Dear friends, if God loved us this way, we must also love one another. No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God remains with us and his love is fully realized among us. The proof that we remain with him, and he with us, is that he gave us his Spirit. And we have seen, and we bear witness, that the Father sent his Son as the Savior of the world. Whoever proclaims that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains with him, and he with God. And we know the love that God has for us, and we believe in it. God is love: whoever remains in love, remains with God, and God remains with him. In this his love for us is fully realized: in us having full confidence on the day of judgment, because, like Jesus, we are in this world. In love there is no fear. On the contrary, perfect love casts out fear, because fear implies punishment, and he who fears has not reached the perfection of love.
– Word of the Lord.
– Thank God.
Gospel (Mark 6,45-52).
Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark.
— Glory to you, Lord.
After satisfying the five thousand men, Jesus forced the disciples to get into the boat and go ahead to Bethsaida, on the other bank, while he sent the crowd away. Soon after saying goodbye to them, he went up to the mountain to pray. At dusk, the boat was in the middle of the sea and Jesus was alone on land. He saw the disciples tired of rowing because the wind was against them. Then, at three in the morning, Jesus came to them walking on the water, and wanted to pass in front of them. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they thought he was a ghost and began to scream. In fact, everyone had seen him and was scared. But Jesus soon said: “Take courage, it’s me! Don’t be afraid!” Then he got into the boat with them. And the wind stopped. But the disciples were even more astonished, because they had not understood anything about the bread. Their hearts were hardened.
— Word of Salvation.
— Glory to you, Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
Dear brothers and sisters, good afternoon! Today we gather to reflect on the perfect love and transforming power of Jesus in our lives. The readings we have just heard bring a clear and profound message that directly touches our hearts. They invite us to throw ourselves into the confidence that, when we truly love, fear disappears, and that, even in moments of storm and uncertainty, Jesus is always present, guiding and supporting us.
Let’s start with the first reading, from the First Letter of John, which presents us with one of the most consoling and profound passages in the Bible: “In love, there is no fear; on the contrary, perfect love casts out fear.” These words remind us that God’s love is so powerful that we cannot fully experience it if we are dominated by fear. God’s perfect love casts out all fear, for where God dwells, there is no room for anguish, doubt or dread.
Let us imagine for a moment the relationship between a father and a young son. When the father is around, the child feels safe, comfortable and confident. No matter how big the storm or how dark the environment, he knows he is protected. This is also true for us: when we are in God’s love, we can trust fully, knowing that, no matter what happens, He has our back. God’s love is not just an abstract feeling; it is practical, real and effective.
In the passage from 1 John, the writing tells us about the ability to love, reflecting the love we receive from God. “Beloved, if God so loved us, we too should love one another.” Here the message is clear: God’s love is the source and model for our love for others. When we love with God’s love, there is no room for judgement, prejudice or division. God’s love is inclusive and universal, and it is the measure by which we are called to love our brothers and sisters.
But what does it mean to love with the love of God? God’s love is not conditional, it is not a bargain. He does not require us to be perfect or to have anything to offer. He loves us unconditionally, exactly as we are, with all our flaws and weaknesses. This is the kind of love we are called to offer others. He demands nothing in return, but transforms us profoundly.
And now, we come to the Gospel of Mark, which brings us the famous story of Jesus walking on water. The scene takes place after a great miracle, the multiplication of the loaves, and the disciples are at sea, crossing to the other side, while Jesus watches them from afar. Suddenly, a storm arises. The waves are big, the wind is strong, and the disciples are terrified. They try to fight the forces of nature, but it seems they can do nothing. And, in the midst of this commotion, they see someone approaching, walking on the water.
Imagine this scene for a moment. The darkness of the night, the roar of the waves, the fear in their hearts. And then, in the midst of this storm, Jesus approaches. They don’t recognize him right away, and the fear increases. But when He speaks, saying: “It is I, do not be afraid!”, something changes. The fear begins to dissipate, and a sense of peace begins to wash over them.
What does this passage teach us? First, that Jesus is always attentive to our difficulties. Even when we don’t see Him, He is there, looking at us, watching over us. He knows exactly what we are going through, and He reaches out to us in our time of greatest need. Sometimes, like the disciples, we may not recognize Him right away. We are so immersed in our difficulties that we cannot see His presence. But Jesus tells us: “It is I, do not be afraid.”
Fear is one of the biggest barriers we face on our journey of faith. Fear paralyzes us, prevents us from acting, from fully trusting in God. But God’s love, perfect love, casts out fear. When Jesus says “do not be afraid,” He reminds us that we can trust Him. He has the power to calm the storms in our lives. And when we trust Him fully, we can have peace in the midst of tribulation.
However, there is another crucial part of this story. When Jesus gets into the boat, the storm calms down. But the disciples still do not fully understand who He is, and the Gospel tells us that “they were greatly astonished.” They had witnessed so many miracles, but they still did not fully understand that the man before them was the Son of God, Lord of heaven and earth.
We, too, are often like this. We are invited to live by faith, but our faith is still fragile. We still do not fully understand the power of God, His constant presence in our lives. But, like the disciples, we are called to grow in our faith, to recognize that, at any moment of the storm, Jesus is there, by our side, ready to calm us, ready to guide us.
Let’s think about how these two readings intertwine. In the Gospel, Jesus offers us His presence as the answer to fear and storm. In John’s letter, we are reminded that if we are loved by God, we are called to love others with the same perfect love, without fear, with generosity and compassion. God’s love is the antidote to fear. When we experience God’s love, our lives become calmer, more centered, more confident.
And now, what can we learn from all this? First, we are called to trust God fully, knowing that He is with us in all circumstances. When we face difficulties, when the storms of life rage against us, we can remember Jesus’ words: “Do not be afraid.” He is with us, and He has power over all the storms. He walks on the waters of our lives and is ready to bring us peace.
Secondly, we are called to live God’s love concretely in our lives. As John’s letter reminds us, if God loved us, we must love one another. God’s perfect love drives out fear, and this love should be the guide of all our actions. We must love without reservation, without fear of giving ourselves to others, without fear of forgiving, without fear of being vulnerable.
Finally, we are challenged to grow in our faith. Like the disciples, we are often in the process of deeply understanding who God is. Every moment, we are called to grow more and more in our trust in Him, to recognize His presence in every moment of our lives.
Dear brothers and sisters, let us ask for the grace to live in God’s love, the grace to trust fully in His presence, and the grace to love one another with the same unconditional love that He has for us. May we, at every moment of our lives, remember: “Do not be afraid, He is with us.” Amen.
