Reflection for April 18 Saturday of the Second Week of Easter: John 6:16-21

Gospel: John 6:16-21

When it was evening, the disciples of Jesus went down to the sea, embarked in a boat, and went across the sea to Capernaum. It had already grown dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.   

The sea was stirred up because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they began to be afraid. But he said to them, “It is I. Do not be afraid.” They wanted to take him into the boat, but the boat immediately arrived at the shore to which they were heading.

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Reflection:

Do we fear the unknown? Do we tremble in the face of darkness?

In the Gospel, we see the disciples caught in both. They were at sea in the middle of the night, surrounded by deep darkness, and battered by strong winds and waves. In such a moment, fear easily takes hold of the human heart. And perhaps, if we are honest, we would have felt the same.

Yet something even more striking happens. As Jesus comes toward them, walking on the water, they do not feel comfort—they feel even greater fear. Why? Because they did not recognize Him. In the darkness and confusion, they mistook His presence for something frightening, something unreal.

Is this not also true in our own lives?

There are moments when we are overwhelmed by trials, uncertainties, and fears. We find ourselves in situations we do not understand, surrounded by darkness of our own—problems that weigh us down, anxieties that disturb our peace, and questions that seem to have no answers. And sometimes, even when Jesus is already near, we fail to recognize Him at work in our lives.

But the good news remains: Jesus never abandons us. In every storm, in every wave that threatens to shake us, in every dark and uncertain path we walk, He comes to us. His presence is constant, steady, and faithful—even when our eyes fail to see Him.

What then are we called to do?

We are invited to call upon Him with trust. To open our hearts. To seek not just His help, but a deeper relationship with Him. For when we grow in friendship with Jesus, our fears begin to lose their power. The unknown no longer overwhelms us, and the darkness no longer controls us—because we know that we are not alone.

 He is with us. He walks toward us. He reaches out to save us.

When we find ourselves in the darkness and storms of life, will we recognize His presence—or will we allow fear to blind us from the One who is already coming to save us?—Marino J. Dasmarinas