Wednesday after Epiphany

In St. Mark’s account of the storm at sea we read that Jesus “intended to pass them by.”  This always puzzled me.  The disciples were in distress, the wind was against them, and they were terrified, thinking they were seeing a ghost.  But Jesus says, “Take heart, it is I, have no fear. And he got into the boat with them and the wind ceased.” It was an Epiphany.

With those little words, “It is I”, Jesus identifies himself with Yahweh passing by Moses on Mt. Sinai, proclaiming his name, “Yahweh, ego eimi” “the Lord, the Lord, a merciful and gracious God,” (Exodus 34:6). 

The Lord said to Moses, “When my glory passes by I will set you in the hollow of the rock and cover you with my hand… you may see my back, but my face is not to be seen.” At another time Elijah was told to “stand on the mountain.  The Lord will be passing by.”

The boys in the boat were astounded when the wind ceased! They didn’t yet know the divinity of Jesus, the Epiphany of the Lord’s glory passing by as it had done earlier at the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. 

Today we are in the hollow of the rock, the nave of this beautiful church, where the Lord passes by in the Sacraments, especially in the loaves and wine of this Eucharist.  Let us “Take heart, the Lord is passing by!”