Hold – Br. Luke Ditewig
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Br. Luke Ditewig
I would have been terrified, too, seeing a figure on the waves. Scared amid rowing against the wind. Exhausted from long, unending service. Resenting losing the promised day off. Jesus had to the disciples: “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while,” because they were so busy serving people it was hard for the disciples to eat.
But people saw them head out to a deserted place, and soon thousands surrounded them. With compassion, Jesus taught the crowds. From five loaves and two fish, Jesus fed the crowds. All ate and were filled. That was yesterday’s text, prior to what we just heard: “Immediately he made his disciples get in the boat and go on ahead.” Jesus saw the disciples on the lake straining against a wind. With compassion, Jesus saw and came to be with. I am here. Don’t be afraid.
God sees and comes to be with us as a human including hearts hardened by fear, exhaustion, disaster, tragedy, loss, anger, and grief. God keeps coming including when don’t recognize or understand.
There’s the story of a group of children rescued in a war. They had lost much and had many reasons to be afraid. They also had trouble going to sleep. An adult caregiver got another loaf of bread from supper, went around tearing off a piece and handing to each child in bed saying: “Hold onto this. We fed you tonight. We’ll feed you tomorrow. Go to sleep.” What have you received? What are you thankful for? And what hurts? What are you not thankful for?[i] Pray them both. Pray pain and gratitude. Hold onto gratitude. As Dennis, Sheila, and Matthew Linn write: This is your “heart-bread.” Hold onto it, and see Jesus who already sees, comes, feeds, and holds you.
[i] The story and these questions are from: Dennis, Sheila and Matthew Linn. (1995) Sleeping With Bread: Holding What Gives You Life. Paulist Press. Their children’s book (2006) Making Heart-Bread is great for teaching kids. Both instruct the Examen, a classic form of prayer from Ignatius, founder of the Jesuits.
“Pray pain and gratitude. Hold onto gratitude.” When I awake in the morning I am trying to do that. Thank you for the reminder.
Thanks for teaching and giving me some “heart bread” this morning. I will carry this prayer with me today.
“God keeps coming, even when we don’t recognize or understand” — something I need to remember. Thank you, Br. Luke.
Thank you for this. After reading the news today, I recognize the very dangerous and violent place our nation is in. This is a very frightening moment for our country and the world.
I am eternally grateful grateful to our Lord, who is a Savior who is trustworthy and kind.
I hope that SSJE will provide more words of encouragement and support in these hard times when we feel helpless to help our Kin countrymen and women in need.
Thank you for all you do.
Yes. 💙💜🫡
Brother Luke
Thanks for this.
One thought, though.
The second sentence of v48: “He intended to pass them by.”
It seems that he wasn’t going out to help, but was interrupted from his intention by their cries of fear at seeing a ghost.
Hmmm.
48When 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. 49But when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought it was a ghost and cried out;
I don’t know what the translation actually says in the language it was written in, and that always gives some kind of insight.
What do you think ‘intended to pass them by’ means?
I’m thinking it means here I am. I’m not climbing in the boat. We’ll get to the shore together, follow me. Perhaps he was hoping they would see him, get a surge of faith that Jesus wasn’t showing up walking on water to watch them drown, be relieved and continue to ask for help.
How often do we have an idea of how we should be rescued and something else comes up that’s an even better idea if we’re paying attention to what God has in mind, ask and see. With God all things are possible. Love that.
I wonder what else this has to teach us? I’m excited to learn it! Have a blessed day!.
THANK YOU BROTHER LUKE FOR SHARING YOU WONDERFUL INSIGHT WITH US. I NEVER THOUGHT OF THE REVERSE !