(Please read the Scripture passages first, before the homily.)
We have a grammar lesson for today. When I was in grade school, we called the verb to be a linking verb: it connected what went before it with what went after it. It functioned like an equal sign. When used by itself, however, it simply meant to exist. For example, from the Bible’s story of the burning bush, we learned that God’s name was, “I AM WHO AM”. Literally this was a claim to be the totality of existence, as if God were saying, “I exist independently of you and you can exist only dependently on me”, or “I am existence and you are not.”
Mark described how Jesus walked upon the sea and called out to the disciples in the boat, “’I Am.’ Do not be afraid.” This may sound weird in English, which is probably why most English translations use, “It is I” (I notice that the Spanish translation is, “soy yo”, “I am”.) Mark wanted this response of Jesus to be understood as a claim to be God. Mark wanted us to understand that Jesus had the right to use the divine title. Mark used this story to portray Jesus as God.
Who strides across the raging seas? Who walks upon the waters? Who calms the seas and has power over nature? Our ancient biblical texts often described God as the One who controlled the winds and the seas, all the powers of nature. Mark described Jesus in terms that would lead us to see him as God among us.
Mark described Jesus as walking upon the waves of the sea, as commanding the winds and seas, and as using God’s name of himself. In this is way Mark showed Jesus Christ as the Son of God. After all, he did write his account of the Gospel to lead people to believe in Jesus as the Son of God.
We are worried about so many things: the official election of a President of the United States today; the pandemic and the vaccine to defeat it; our family issues and problems; the weather; and our personal challenges. St Mark can remind us that the same Jesus still is God among us, still walks upon the seas, still commands the winds and the sea and still claims divinity for himself. We need not be afraid because this Jesus has existence and holds our existence in the palm of his hand and will not let go of us. We are as safe as the disciples in the boat.