{"id":4283,"date":"2023-08-29T04:56:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-29T04:56:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/integratedcatholiclife.org\/?p=56349"},"modified":"2023-08-29T04:56:00","modified_gmt":"2023-08-29T04:56:00","slug":"what-are-we-afraid-of","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.catholiccr.org\/blog\/what-are-we-afraid-of\/","title":{"rendered":"What Are We Afraid Of?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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What risks are we willing to take in our spiritual life? Are we willing to allow the Lord to drive us out into deep water, a place where we might no longer be in control? Are we willing to accept that the winds might be against us?<\/em> <\/p>\n

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But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, \u201cIt is a ghost!\u201d And they cried out for fear. But immediately he spoke to them, saying, \u201cTake heart, it is I; have no fear.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2013 Matthew 14:26-27<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Do not be afraid. These are some of the most powerful words in the New Testament, especially because they come directly from Jesus.<\/p>\n

There are a number of key points we can take from this particular Scripture verse.<\/p>\n

First, the boat actually represents the human soul, and it is interesting to note that the boat is far from land, out into the deep water. This analogy indicates that the soul has begun to abandon some of its worldliness and attachment to material things. This situation also reminds us of the instructions Jesus gave to Peter and his companions when He first met them.<\/p>\n

At that time, they had experienced a hard but unproductive day of fishing. Jesus gave them instructions which they would later come to understand pertained to the new life to which He was calling them.<\/p>\n

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And when he had ceased speaking, he said to Simon, \u201cPut out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2013 Luke 5:4<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This reference to the deep refers to our spiritual life; we must be willing to push off the shore, the place where we are comfortable, and we must be willing to put out into a deeper spiritual life, where we are more dependent on the Lord. This is about the risks of living from within our soul rather than relying exclusively or even largely on our minds or our senses.<\/p>\n

What risks are we willing to take in our spiritual life? Are we willing to allow the Lord to drive us out into deep water, a place where we might no longer be in control? Are we willing to accept that the winds might be against us? And are we okay that in that hour we may have no assurance other than Jesus.<\/p>\n

This detachment is not always a deliberate choice on our part, sometimes the Lord allows it. The disciples did not choose to allow the wind to blow them that far offshore. But what matters is what happens next in this story, and it is that which reveals the maturity of a person\u2019s faith.<\/p>\n

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And Peter answered him, \u201cLord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water.\u201d He said, \u201cCome.\u201d So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, \u201cLord, save me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2013 Matthew 14:28-30<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Now we might conclude that Peter is a bit of a coward in this story, but it is important to note he is the only one who actually got out of the boat. Peter is always the leader in circumstances like this. Peter is no coward. He is a little overly ambitious, but he is no coward.<\/p>\n

How about us, are we willing to get out of the boat in the middle of a storm, over deep water, with no visible means of flotation? Do we have a sufficient amount of faith in Jesus to allow Him to call us out into the deep in our life? And what might we do if things do not work out?<\/p>\n

Peter actually did exactly the right thing, but only after he did the wrong thing.<\/p>\n

Striking out into the deep without any apparent means of support is fine, and we are asked to do this in our faith journey. But Peter\u2019s mistake was in taking his eyes off Jesus.<\/p>\n

You see, Peter chose to look at the winds, which equate to the trials and difficulties in our life, and Peter then lost visible contact with the Lord. That was his and often our mistake. But then, Peter did the most intelligent thing a human person can do in the midst of the storm. He called out, \u201cLord, save me!\u201d  <\/p>\n

And, just as the Lord He do will when we cry out to Him\u2026<\/p>\n

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Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, \u201cO man of little faith, why did you doubt?\u201d 32 <\/sup>And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.<\/p>\n

\u2013 Matthew 14:31-32<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Yes, Peter was still immature in his inner spiritual life; he was not yet fully converted. His heart had not yet been won over to complete faith <\/strong>in Jesus Christ. That only happened after Jesus\u2019 death and resurrection. Peter\u2019s full conversion occurred when he rushed to meet Jesus on a beach. Here is how the Gospel of John records it, as Peter was in a boat some distance offshore.<\/p>\n

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Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. \u2026That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, \u201cIt is the Lord!\u201d When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his clothes, for he was stripped for work, and sprang into the sea.<\/p>\n

\u2013 John 21:4, 7<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Now granted, it was likely not storming in this account, but regardless, Peter does seem to have overcome his fear of the water.<\/p>\n

How about us? What are we afraid of?<\/p>\n

If our faith is not yet as mature as Peter\u2019s was on the beach, we should not be concerned. We still need to be willing to step out into the deep, and when the storms become too much, we need only cry out to Jesus in prayer. \u201cLord, save me!\u201d <\/strong>Then we will hear our Lord\u2019s voice speak to our deep interior \u201cDo not be afraid.<\/strong><\/p>\n

God Bless<\/p>\n

Copyright \u00a9 Deacon Mark Danis<\/p>\n

Image credit: \u201cJesus Walking On Water\u201d | Ivan Ayvazovsky<\/a>, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons<\/p>\n

Please help spread the Gospel. Share this article with family and friends on Facebook and other social media.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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What risks are we willing to take in our spiritual life? 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