Prayer and Spiritual Power!

Wednesday, January 7, 2026

1 Jn 4:11-18; Mk 6: 45-52

Today’s Gospel highlights the relationship between prayer and spiritual power. 

The disciples’ journey in the sea was quite challenging because of heavy winds and raging waters. And Jesus was not with them while all these were happening. 

Jesus, who wanted his disciples to go over to the other side towards Bethsaida, spent his evening in prayer. 

Hence, Jesus’ walk on water symbolizes the moment when spiritual power meets real-life chaos. 

As we read the passage, we note that what terrified his disciples was subdued by the Lord. The sea, winds, and waves were overwhelming to the disciples. But Jesus put them all under his feet.

The text reads that the disciples were ‘completely astounded’ to find the Lord walking on water. However, the astonishment of disciples does not lead to faith. In other words, they fail to see that Jesus’ power flows from his intimacy with God.

‘Their hearts were hardened’ because the astonishment of the disciples did not lead to understanding. They were unable to understand that the sea became calm because Jesus was with them. They witnessed Jesus’ power but missed who Jesus really was. The text mentions that they failed to understand the miracle of the loaves in the same way.

The Gospel passage teaches that it is possible that we may be amazed by God but still resist the call to conversion. Astonishment is not faith but could lead us to have faith in God.

When we allow Jesus’ presence to transform us, we will discover that true faith leads to surrender, as Jesus always found himself in communion with his Father. 

Let us pray for a heart attentive to God in order to discover the miracles in our daily lives.

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar