Have you ever played with little children?
When we elders play a game with little children, we usually change the rules. It could be baseball, basketball, football, or any board game. We relax some of the rules to make it easier for the child to enjoy the game a little more.
For fun, we also sometimes intentionally play poorly to allow the child to win. We might even make adjustments to our gameplay, pretending not to know how to play well. At times, we act as if we are losing badly so that the child can enjoy the game even more. We do a bit of “acting” and some pretense to see the reaction of the children.
For the Lord, we are like little children, and sometimes, He, too, plays with us in ways that might seem puzzling at first. Take a story from the Gospel of Mark, for instance. After Jesus performs the miraculous multiplication of loaves and fish (Mark 6:34-44), He sends His disciples ahead on a boat while He retreats to pray on the mountain. As the disciples battle a fierce storm at sea, Jesus comes walking toward them on the water.
But here’s the curious part: Mark says, “He meant to pass by them” (Mark 6:48).
Why would He do that? The disciples are in danger, struggling for their lives, and it seems like Jesus just plans to walk on by! Did He not care? Was He indifferent? Was he playing a prank on them? Not at all. This is where we see the Lord’s unique way of engaging with us—sometimes playful, but always purposeful.
On another occasion, the two disciples on the road to Emmaus experience a similar moment. As they near their destination, Jesus acts as if He will continue walking further (Luke 24:28).
In both stories, Jesus is not abandoning them. Instead, He’s drawing them into deeper engagement.
In the boat, the disciples cry out in fear, and Jesus responds immediately, calming their hearts: “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid” (Mark 6:50). On the road to Emmaus, the disciples urge Him to stay, and He reveals Himself in the breaking of the bread.
Why this “acting”? Because the Lord invites us to call out to Him in faith. He wants us to recognize our need for Him and reach out with trust and love. Isn’t it similar to how we “pretend” in games with children? We step back a little, allowing them to grow, act, or win. Jesus, too, sometimes steps back—not to abandon us but to draw us closer.
When storms rage in our lives, when waves of hardship and fear batter us, it can feel like the Lord is “just passing by.” But He’s never far. He always hears when we cry out—in fear, anguish, or earnest prayer.
Our struggles become the very prayers that touch His heart. And in those moments, He reminds us, “Take courage, it is I. Do not be afraid.” So, if you feel like the Lord is distant or disinterested, remember: He is with you, inviting you to reach out, to trust, and to believe. In the end, He’s not playing games—He’s teaching us faith, courage, and love in ways only He can.
Father Boby John, C.S.C., ordained a priest in the Congregation of Holy Cross in 2008, worked as a pastor and as an educator with tribal populations in Northeast India for thirteen years. Originally from Kerala, India, Father Boby grew up with three siblings. He is a dedicated and detailed educationist with experience in educational leadership. He is currently working as an executive assistant at the world headquarters of Holy Cross Family Ministries, North Easton, Massachusetts.
