THEOPHANY

In the Gospel of Matthew (14:22-33), Jesus came toward His disciples walking on the sea. This is the revelation of the power and presence of God in Christ. Theophany is revelation, manifestation. God is made manifest to human beings. It is the initiative of God. It is the manifestation of the divine identity of Jesus. He is the Son of God. The gospel narrates that Jesus made the disciples get into a boat and precede Him to the other side but the boat was being tossed about by the waves for the wind was against it. The boat represents the Church in the midst of the storm battered by waves. Jesus walking on the sea reveals that He is able to subdue the chaos of the waters. Sea in Scripture is the domain of demonic forces hostile to God. Jesus has mastery over the water and wind reserve to God alone. He does what God does. He has control and absolute power over the forces of nature and even over sin, evil and death. Matthew wrote this gospel at a time when Christians were being persecuted. The very presence of Jesus banishes all fears. Jesus said, “Take courage, it is I. Do not be afraid!” It reminds us of the name of God revealed to Moses in the burning bush. I am who am. Jesus uses the name of God for Himself because He speaks and acts in the very person of the one true God. He is the perfect revelation of the invisible God. He is the sign par excellence of God’s love. He is Emmanuel, God is with us. The revelation of the power of God in Christ comes to its fulfillment on the mountain of Calvary where God reveals His power in powerlessness, weakness and failure. This is the paradox. The Cross is scandal to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. But for us Christians, the Cross is the power and wisdom of God. It reveals that the love of God is greater than our infidelities, betrayals and failings. God’s love is stronger than death. The pride of man is undone by the humility of God. Therefore, Christian life is not about never sinking. We sink at some point. It is about Christ who is always with us in both personal and shared difficulties. Faith is not merely being able to walk on the water but to believe that God is with us every step of the way. It is to learn to rely on God alone, the only way to be strong and to be fully alive.