By Françoise Niamien
Addressing the crowds gathered in St Peter’s Square for the Sunday Angelus, Pope Leo reflected on the day’s Gospel reading, which describes how Jesus “joins his disciples in the middle of a storm, walking on the water” (cf. Mt 14:22–33).
Read the full text of the Pope’s address
‘Do not be afraid’
This sight, meant to calm the disciples down, frightened them all the more. In this moment of distress, Christ spoke: “Take heart, it is I, do not be afraid!”
“The presence of the Lord changes everything,” Pope Leo explained. “Peter even manages to take a few steps on the waves to go toward Him; then he grows afraid, sinks, and Jesus saves him.” The Gospel passage, thus, indicates the need not to be afraid and never to take our eyes off Jesus.
The power of faith
Pope Leo observed that this experience brings forth “from the hearts of the disciples a profession of faith: ‘Truly you are the Son of God!’”
The Pope connected this profession of faith to a different episode in Matthew’s Gospel, where Jesus says “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, […] you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done” (Mt 21:21).”
This, the Pope observed, is precisely what the disciples experienced on the lake: the peace of Christ reached them in the midst of the raging waters.
Never overestimate yourselves
Pope Leo drew two lessons from the miracle: Firstly, “not to become proud in the face of success”, and secondly “not to despair, even in dark moments when we feel helpless in the face of problems and, despite our efforts, feel like we are moving backward rather than forward.”
“In all circumstances,” the Pope said, “Jesus does not abandon us and, if we humbly welcome him into the boat of our lives—through prayer, the sacraments, and listening to his Word—we will find in Him the peace, light, and strength for our journey”.
The Pope brought his address to a close by praying that “the Virgin Mary might help us live this way, in trusting abandonment to God, she who was proclaimed blessed for her faith”. – Vatican News
