Today, between the multiplication of the loaves and the Eucharistic discourse in the Synagogue of Capernaum, the episode of Jesus walking on the sea takes place. An appropriate event to introduce the fundamental context of Saint John’s Chapter 6: the comparison between Moses and Jesus. The first one —through God’s power— divided the sea water to cross it stepping on the ground; Jesus simply walks on the sea. He is the “I am”.

Christ is the definitive and greatest Moses. The “prophet” announced by Moses at the sight of the Holy Land. Having, thus, Moses as background, the requirements which Jesus should have are perceptible: while Moses made water spring from the rock, Jesus is the fountain of living water; while Moses had given the manna —the bread from Heaven—, Jesus Himself is the Living Bread descended from Heaven.

—Moses talked with God “as a person speaks to a friend” (Ex 33:11), although he only saw His “back”… Only the One who is God, can see God: Jesus.

Today, after sharing the loaves with the crowd, we can see Jesus retire to the mountain. At dusk, the disciples descend to the seashore and get into a boat to get back to Capernaum. Sailing in the dark, and facing a turbulent sea, symbolizes the unsteadiness of men in the absence of God. Walking on water, He approaches us and brings us peace.

With this and other signs (He calmed the storm by saying to the waves "lie down, be calm"), Jesus Christ has endowed us with distinct signs of His divinity and of His lordship over Nature. He is the eternal Son of God, who made everything, and we are part of the created nature. Thanks to the gift of freedom, we partake in a privileged way (culture) the divine creativity. We must acknowledge our debt before God for His having given us the benefit of such a perfect nature.

—Father, in the midst of the storms, make me understand that the Resurrected walks by my side, motivating me to remain unyielding in the right path He has traced.