Jesus was seen as a ghost

Wise people say that it is not a good idea to decide anything when we are in a bad mood. Unsteady emotional bursts witness a god who lacks eyes, ears, hands and legs, heart or even appear to be a ghost. These emotional bursts are not true in any sense as far as the facts go. They moreover reveal our inability to experience that particular faculty in God. When people say ‘this God does not have ears’ is a revelation that we are unable to experience that God listens to us. They in turn make us lack in all those qualities that we project on God.

The disciples saw that they are in danger. The God of the Jews were often fearful: God every now and then encouraged them to “Fear not or Do not be afraid”. There is a Hindu Goddess named Kali: she is very frightening and terrible, that she cut the head off from the wrongdoers and dances on the dead bodies. Our Christian tradition has the eternal fire in hell to bring responsibility on the minds and hearts of people. They see God who brings fear in people.

But the experience of the disciples here is different. They saw Jesus as a ghost. We experience God in the way we want on account of the whereabouts of our hearts. We experience God who loves us with the human heart; a God who is in search of us. Even in times of utter confusion and danger, we still see and experience a God who is not a ghost but a loving parent. Our confusions and dangers are temporary and God calms everything down only if we have the faith to see it.

Let us prepare our heats prayerfully, proceed positively and pursue God’s heart persistently. God will guide us through. Amen.