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Gospel Reflection – January 9, 2026
Today’s Gospel shows us the disciples out on the lake. In a boat. At night. The wind decides to come out of hiding and starts whipping up the waves. A storm hits. And so does fear. If you’ve ever seen the Sea of Galilee, you might have seen it on a calm day. It’s a lovely, almost idyllic landscape. But it’s big enough for storms to be terrifying—especially back then, and especially if we consider that the disciples’ little boat probably wasn’t much to brag about. But Jesus passes by and invites them to trust: “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”
The lake and the boat have long been favorite symbols for the world and the Church. The “Barque of the Church”—the simple boat of Peter the fisherman—has to sail through the dangers of a sea that is sometimes calm and other times terrifying. In a boat, there is no “safe” place to hold onto, especially if the waves are taller than the boat itself. The boat tosses and turns, and it feels like there’s no hope of reaching the shore.
Maybe today we feel like our lives are under threat. Or maybe we feel the life of the Church is threatened because of a lack of vocations or empty pews. Some people see themselves as “prophets of doom,” seeing only dangers so terrible that it feels like we’re headed for a dead end.
Against those “doomsday prophets,” we have only the figure of Jesus passing near us and saying: “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” He is the one who keeps us sailing safely, practicing brotherhood, and reaching out to our fellow human beings without excluding anyone—because we are all children of God. Sometimes we face problems or conflicts—between the Church and society, or even within the Church, our communities, or our families. Everything will be settled through dialogue, love, and mercy. And by remembering Jesus’ words: “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”