Mk 6:45-52
45[Jesus] made his disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side toward Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46And when he had taken leave of them, he went off to the mountain to pray. 47When it was evening, the boat was far out on the sea and he was alone on shore. 48Then he saw that they were tossed about while rowing, for the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them. 49But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out. 50They had all seen him and were terrified. But at once he spoke with them, “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!” 51He got into the boat with them and the wind died down. They were [completely] astounded. 52They had not understood the incident of the loaves. On the contrary, their hearts were hardened.
They thought Jesus was a ghost!: We often see ghosts. They are not the terrifying, white-covered spirits with cat eyes, imagined to be flying around or walking through walls and doors. Ghosts are often the sins we commit and our guilt feelings that haunt us. Ghosts are upright people who remind us of our crooked and evil ways. Ghosts are things we are never sure of or have no knowledge of. Ghosts are the future we are afraid of.
To make the ghosts disappear, confront and under stand the meaning of the events in your lives. To banish your ghosts, face your fears. Acknowledge your sins and make reparations!
And Jesus is not a ghost. He is the ghost buster who helps us dispel the ghosts in our closets!