Sunday, August 9, 2020

Lord, Help Me; Do Not Be Afraid

Rembrandt's Storm on the Sea of Galilee
 In the Gospel according to Matthew, Jesus had an extraordinary day feeding thousands of people. He then went off to converse with God in prayer. 

Meanwhile His disciples set sail on the Sea of Galilee, only to be awakened at night by a raging storm. Suddenly, they see Jesus. “It is I; do not be afraid,” Jesus says. He bids Peter: “Come.” Peter does but then frightened that he may drown, cries out: “Lord, save me.” 

Back in the boat with Jesus, the storm subsides and the disciples did Jesus homage: truly you are the Son of God. 

Two specific Gospel phrases caught my eye. I would like to paraphrase them: “Lord, Help me!” and “Do not be afraid; God is with me.”

“Help” is one of the most common prayers in the Bible. It's simple. We can pray it every day in any situation. Perhaps we’re struggling with a relationship. Or frightened for our life, as Peter was. We pray, Lord, help me.

Or we’re trapped in a bad habit and want to break free? St. Paul wrote about this type of struggle: “I don’t do what I know what I should do; or I do what I know I shouldn’t do.” Paul prayed for God’s help in these situations. 

The eighteenth century author of “Amazing Grace,” John Newton, put this struggle well: “I’m not what I want to be. I’m not what I ought to be. I’m not what I one day will be. But thank God I’m not what I once was.”Yes, the Spirit of God within us will help us, whatever our struggle.

 The second paraphrase I noted is: Do not be afraid; God is with me. “God with us” (Emmanuel) is one of the titles used for Jesus. Realizing that the God who created the universe is with us is awesome. The indwelling of God energizes us. 

St. Paul explains, “you are the temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwells in you.” In baptism, God gifts us with his life and Spirit to guide us: with wisdom, wonder, intelligence, courage, compassion, good judgment.

God is with us in our successes. Jesus promises that if we stay close to him (he is the vine; we are the branches), we will bear much fruit. And God also is with us in our failures. The psalmist assures us that God will be with us in our troubles. (Ps. 91) 

Yes, meditate on these two phrases, Lord, help me. Do not to be afraid. For You, God, are always with me.

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