January 6, 2021 Wednesday after Epiphany-B

1 John 4:11-18

Psalm 72

Mark 6:45-52

…perfect love drives out fear… 1 John 4:18

He got into the boat with them and the wind died down.  Mk. 6:51

Lord, what a day you and your followers had! You satisfied the physical and spiritual hunger of many thousands of people with a little bread and a couple fish. During your prayer time you saw your disciples struggling against a fierce wind far out at sea. You let them fight the wind for a few hours and then in the early morning just before dawn you appeared to them walking on the sea. They were terrified by the way you came to them. We are also told that for some reason their hearts were hardened and failed to understand your miracle of the loaves. Closed minds can be an obstacle to faith. How many times have you come to me in my struggles and I didn’t know it was you? When I am fearful that disaster is just around the corner you can be right there with me and I am still afraid.  Lord, I want to be open to all the ways you are present to me. Help me to reject fear and surrender completely to your love. Give me the grace to trust that you are in the boat with me and that as long as I rest in your love nothing can harm me.  Amen.