Homily | April 18, 2026 | When God Feels Absent And Life Keeps Moving (Episode 94)

Well, we arrive on this Saturday, and the gospel has a line that's perhaps very easy to pass over.

It says, It had already grown dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.

That's the moment.

Not the miracle, Jesus walking on the water.

That line.

Because that's where most of us live at some point.

Doing what we're supposed to do, moving forward, trying to be faithful, and yet it feels dark.

It can feel lonely.

It can feel like Jesus hasn't shown up.

The disciples are in the boat, in the middle of the sea, the wind is against them, and Jesus is not there.

And then things get worse.

The storm builds, the distance grows, and now not only is he absent, they're afraid.

That's real faith.

That's day-to-day.

That's what we struggle with.

We're talking about our daily lives.

Not when everything is clear, but when it's dark.

And he hasn't come yet.

When we haven't felt his presence, when we don't see him, we don't feel him.

Now hold on to that because the first reading we see something very different.

The church is growing, people are coming, but there's a problem, real tension.

People are being overlooked.

There's frustration.

There's division.

What do the gospel what do the apostles do?

Well, they don't panic.

They don't try to do everything themselves.

They respond with clarity.

What do they say?

They say, We need men filled with the spirit and wisdom.

We need structure.

We need order.

We need people who will step up and lead and govern.

And what happens?

The church doesn't fall apart.

It begins to grow.

And that's important because both readings show us something we don't always expect.

Even in the presence of God, there can still be moments of problems, pressure, and uncertainty.

The disciples are in the storm.

The church is dealing with tension and division, and yet God is still at work.

So if we go back to the gospel out in the darkness, in the middle of the storm, what happens?

Then suddenly they see something.

Jesus walking towards them.

But they don't recognize him right away.

In fact, they're afraid.

Because sometimes when God shows up in our lives, he doesn't look the way you expect.

You thought he would fix everything immediately, that all the answers would be there.

You thought that the would calm everything in your life, all your anxieties, frustrations, disappointments.

You thought it would be very clear that Jesus is now in your life.

Instead, he calms in the middle of it.

And then he says one simple thing.

It's I.

Do not be afraid.

Not I'll remove the storm right away.

Not I'll make everything easy for you.

Just I am here.

And that's enough.

And the moment they receive him, they arrive.

The journey is completed.

And that's the key.

Not that the storm disappeared, but that his presence changed everything.

So here's the question for you today.

What do you do when it's dark?

And it feels like God hasn't shown up, that you can't feel his presence.

Do you stop?

Do you lose trust?

Do you assume he's not there?

Do you go back to your old habits?

Or do you keep rowing?

Do you keep moving?

One foot in front of the other.

Keep believing.

Just because you don't see him doesn't mean he doesn't already doesn't mean he's not already on the way.

And sometimes closer than you think.

So don't give up in the dark.

Don't walk away in the storm.

Don't assume absence when he's about to speak.

Because sooner or later every disciple's, every disciple hears it.

It is I.

And in that moment, everything changes.

Not because life gets easier, but because you realize, oh wait, I'm never alone.

I haven't been alone.

And that's what allows you to keep going, to keep trusting, to keep living your faith, a real faith, a steady faith, a faith that is grounded.

Even when you can't see the shoreline, not yet, he does.

And he's already leading you there.

So trust in the Lord.

Seek your eyes on his presence even when you can't feel it.

Amen.