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Morning Devotion for the Season of Epiphany
January 31, 2025
Invitatory
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Mark 6:47-56
When evening came, the boat was out on the lake, and he was alone on the land. When he saw that they were straining at the oars against an adverse wind, he came towards them early in the morning, walking on the lake. He intended to pass them by. But when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought it was a ghost and cried out; for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.’ Then he got into the boat with them and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.
When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the market-places, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.
Meditation-Rebecca Northington
When you google “how many times is ‘fear not’ or ‘do not be afraid’” in the Bible, you get a mixed response. Some people argue that some version of “be not afraid” is in the Bible 365 times, enough for every day of the year. Reddit hosts an abundance of arguments against this number, with calculations and opinions on what qualifies as “fear not” language. For the sake of this meditation, we can likely all agree - it’s a lot! It may be the most common phrase in the Bible. When humans witness something divine, their instinct is to be afraid. In fact, humans react in fear to much more than just the divine.
Yesterday morning in RYG Bible study, we discussed the challenges of forgiveness and looked to scripture to help guide us. We explored stories where forgiveness was withheld, as well as those in which it was beautifully demonstrated by characters in the Bible, and by God. A critical stumbling block to forgiveness is fear. We could all take a moment here to explore what fears prevent us from asking for forgiveness, or from giving it; but the point related to this passage is the role that fear plays in all facets of our life.
What happens, for example, when we let fear dominate our hearts and minds? When an athlete performs in fear they are often at risk of injury. A ski racer cannot approach the course with fear, they have to attack it with confidence and hope. A singer cannot take the stage with fear or their throat will constrict and diminish their sound. When we approach a social interaction without hope or confidence, our worst fears can infiltrate our ability to make new friends or see the best in strangers. Fear can be debilitating and damaging, which is something we see every day in this country.
Paired with this phrase “Fear not”, is often a reminder that God is with us, or as with Mary and Zechariah, God has found favor with us. Perhaps one of the most valuable and abiding messages of the Bible. Our “hardened” hearts (another very common phrase in scripture), can be softened with hope and faith, and we can face the inevitable adversity and suffering of life, unafraid and accompanied by Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit; whether we see any sign of them or not.
Fear can prevent us from seeing God’s activity in our lives. “He intended to pass them by.” This statement isn’t about calming the seas. Walking on the water exposes his divine self to them and they respond with terror. He says “it is I”, the great I AM. Even after he has fed the 5,000, they do not understand. It isn’t until this moment that they soften and “cross” over to a new understanding, transformed. This doesn’t mean that their lives will be easy or free of hardship and suffering; nor does it for any of us. But it does mean that God is with us. Be not afraid.
Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
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