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Gospel Reading for January 07, 2026 – Mark 6: 45-52
GHOST
After the five thousand had eaten and were satisfied, Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side toward Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. And when he had taken leave of them, he went off to the mountain to pray. When it was evening, the boat was far out on the sea and he was alone on shore. Then he saw that they were tossed about while rowing, for the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them. But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out. They had all seen him and were terrified. But at once he spoke with them, “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!” He got into the boat with them and the wind died down. They were completely astounded. They had not understood the incident of the loaves. On the contrary, their hearts were hardened.
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When they saw Jesus walking on the sea, they were terrified, thinking he was a GHOST. Well, who isn’t afraid of ghosts? A lot of us are, because we believe they are spirits unlike us and we cannot control them.
In Charles Dicken’s “A Christmas Carol,” the Ghost of Christmas Past was the first spirit to visit the main character, Scrooge. The Ghost guided him through history to show him how he became a miser, revealing his lonely childhood, and the painful moment his fiancée left him because of his greed, ultimately prompting his transformation by confronting his lost humanity.
Listening to Jesus’ teachings and looking at the way he lived can bring back “ghosts of our past” – our unresolved issues or feelings, things we did and regret, people who hurt us badly, and all other things that haunt us to this day. Jesus tells us, “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!”
How important it is to let go of a past that we cannot change anyway, but from which we can learn a lot about ourselves. How important it is to forgive ourselves and others so we may be able to move on in life. Jesus did not dwell on the past of sinners. Instead, he made them look forward to a future in God’s Kingdom.
Yes Lord, with you on our side, we need not be afraid! Thank you!
