Imagine a child who climbs to the top of a playground structure. He excitedly ascends as high as he can go. He reaches the highest tower and for the first time looks down. His joy quickly melts into fear. The steep slide before him looks to him to be a path of sure death. Panic comes over him. He stands at the top of the playground structure, paralyzed with fear.
The boy hears a clanging noise from the tunnel he had recently emerged from. His eyes widen further. He doesn’t know what to do. Suddenly, a voice calls out from the tunnel, “It’s me.” With those two words, the child immediately feels his body relax. He recognizes that voice because he’s heard it every day of his life. He knows he’s safe because his father has come to rescue him. He knows his father’s voice, and before he can even see him, the boy benefits from his dad’s presence.
Though his father only spoke two words, the boy hears infinitely more meaning. He hears his dad saying, “You’re safe now. I’ve come to help you. You’re not alone.” Many times just a few words can have a profound impact on someone, especially when it’s a voice we recognize without even seeing their face.
The disciples in the boat during today’s Gospel had a similar experience. They rowed in the boat, excited after the miraculous multiplication of the loaves and fishes. It didn’t take long for the euphoria of the miracle to wear off. The “sea was stirred up,” and “they began to be afraid.” Though we don’t get many details in John’s account, we know about this storm from the other Gospels. How quickly their joy melted into fear. Then they saw something that was beyond their comprehension. A man walked on the water toward them. They didn’t understand or know what to do.
Jesus spoke to them and said, “It is I.” These few words said aloud meant a great deal to the Apostles. They recognized His voice and were comforted to know that He was there with them. Their fear melted knowing Jesus was near. They heard His voice and knew Him.
The words Jesus spoke were more than just letting His Apostles know that He was there. Jesus’ words could also be translated as, “I am,” as in the name that God gave to Moses from the burning bush. When Jesus identified Himself as the one walking on the water toward them, He simultaneously affirmed that He is the living and true God. His Apostles have nothing to fear because their Rabbi is more than just a man who can walk on water. He is the Lord.
Imagina a un niño que sube a lo alto de una estructura de juegos infantiles. Sube emocionado lo más alto que puede. Llega a la torre más alta y, por primera vez, mira hacia abajo. Su alegría se convierte rápidamente en miedo. El tobogán empinado que tiene delante le parece un camino a la muerte segura. El pánico se apodera de él. Permanece en lo alto de la estructura, paralizado por el miedo.
El niño oye un ruido metálico proveniente del túnel del que acababa de salir. Sus ojos se abren aún más. No sabe qué hacer. De repente, una voz grita desde el túnel: “Soy yo”. Con esas dos palabras, el niño siente inmediatamente que su cuerpo se relaja. Reconoce esa voz porque la ha oído todos los días de su vida. Sabe que está a salvo porque su padre ha venido a rescatarlo. Reconoce la voz de su padre, e incluso antes de verlo, el niño se beneficia de su presencia.
Aunque su padre sólo pronunció dos palabras, el niño escucha un significado infinitamente mayor. Oye a su padre decir: “Ahora estás a salvo. He venido a ayudarte. No estás solo”. Muchas veces, solo unas pocas palabras pueden tener un profundo impacto en alguien, especialmente cuando se trata de una voz que reconocemos sin siquiera ver su rostro.
Los discípulos en la barca durante el Evangelio de hoy tuvieron una experiencia similar. Remaban en la barca, emocionados después de la milagrosa multiplicación de los panes y los peces. La euforia del milagro no tardó en desvanecerse. El mar se agitó y comenzaron a tener miedo. Aunque no obtenemos muchos detalles en el relato de Juan, conocemos esta tormenta por los otros Evangelios. ¡Qué rápido su alegría se convirtió en miedo! Entonces vieron algo que estaba más allá de su comprensión. Un hombre caminaba sobre el agua hacia ellos. No entendían ni sabían qué hacer.
Jesús les habló y dijo: “Soy yo”. Estas pocas palabras pronunciadas en voz alta significaron mucho para los Apóstoles. Reconocieron su voz y se consolaron al saber que Él estaba allí con ellos. Su miedo se disipó al saber que Jesús estaba cerca. Oyeron su voz y lo reconocieron.
Las palabras que Jesús pronunció fueron más que simplemente hacerles saber a sus Apóstoles que Él estaba allí. Las palabras de Jesús también podrían traducirse como “Yo soy”, al igual que el nombre que Dios le reveló a Moisés desde la zarza ardiente. Cuando Jesús se identificó como aquel que caminaba sobre las aguas hacia ellos, afirmó simultáneamente que Él es el Dios vivo y verdadero. Sus apóstoles no tienen nada que temer, porque su Maestro es mucho más que un hombre que podía caminar sobre el agua. Es el Señor.
Maria Riley is a passionate Catholic author and speaker who loves volunteering or playing board games when she’s not writing or mom-ing around with her four daughters. Her award-winning Catholic children’s chapter book series, Adventures with the Saints, is endorsed by her bishop. Visit her at MariaRileyAuthor.com or on social media @mariarileyauthor. She and her family live in Kansas.
Feature Image Credit: Airgilstudio, pixabay.com/illustrations/jesus-storm-disciples-boat-trust-8748516/
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