God is love, and He has loved us first. He revealed this love most excellently through the gift of His Son, whom He sent as Saviour of the world. Since God has so loved us, He also invites us to love as well. God's love generates ours. Only if we can love the neighbour who is visible, can we love God who is invisible.

God is not love in abstract but in all His activity. He creates lovingly, He saves lovingly, He judges lovingly. God's love for us and our love for Him and for one another should give us fearless confidence, for we have overcome the world just as Christ has. It is in him as Saviour of the world and as Son of God that we profess our faith through the Spirit.

It is this fearless confidence in God's love that Jesus wanted to evoke from his disciples in today's Gospel passage. Only God has such mastery over the sea. Although he had intended to "pass by them" he reveals a new way of God protecting the chosen people: he comes to be with those who are afraid. He assures them with his word: "It is I!"

Today, many of us are facing challenging storms and upheavals in our lives. In the face of such difficulties, it is easy to become afraid and discouraged. Yet, Jesus continues to reveal God's love to us daily in many ways. He continues to assure us with his words, "Courage! It is I! Do not be afraid!" He who is the Emmanuel is with us.