First Reading: 1 Kings 19:9A, 11-13A
Reflection:
In this passage, the great prophet Elijah has a profound encounter with God on Mt. Horeb (better known as Mt. Sinai, where Moses also encountered God). If we read the context, we see that this encounter comes at a troubled time in Elijah’s life. He is running for his life as a result of the episode with the prophets of Baal (see 1 Kings 18:25-40). He is scared and wants to give up. As a result, God directs him to Mt. Horeb to renew him in his mission. A great wind, an earthquake, and fire then come upon the mountain. These cataclysmic events would get anyone’s attention and could easily be connected with the power of God (as they are elsewhere in Scripture). But here the account says, “The LORD was not in [them].” Certainly, the Lord could have appeared to Elijah through these means, but He chose not to, in order to teach Elijah and all of us something profound. God came to Elijah in “a tiny whispering sound” to show that He is near to us and wants us to quiet our hearts and minds to listen. God is still speaking to us today in “a tiny whispering sound,” but are we willing to stop, quiet ourselves and listen?
Second Reading: Romans 9:1-5
Reflection:
This passage begins a section in St. Paul’s letter to the Romans in which he focuses on the role of the Israelite people in the new covenant established by Jesus. In the Old Testament, the Israelites were the chosen people who had many promises given to them by God. They were awaiting the Messiah, but when Jesus the Messiah came, many of them rejected Him. In this Sunday’s reading, Paul affirms the special place the Israelites have. To them was given the law, the covenants, the promises, right worship, etc. In fact, they are the people from which the Messiah, Jesus, has come. Thus, the Israelites have given a great gift to the world: our Lord and Savior. But, unfortunately, many of them have rejected their own Messiah. They may have been given all these blessings, but they have hardened their hearts and lacked faith. The Apostle Paul, an Israelite himself, has come to accept Jesus as the Messiah and now passionately desires for the remainder of his people to do the same–so much so that he even says he would forfeit his own salvation (i.e. being “accursed and cut off from Christ”) for the sake of the salvation of the nation of Israel.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 14:22-33
Reflection:
Imagine yourself in this scene. You are one of the disciples in the boat crossing the Sea of Galilee in the middle of the night (the “fourth watch” was between 3:00 and 6:00 AM). You’re in a primitive boat on a very large lake and the boat is being tossed by strong waves. You’re probably already scared to death. Then, out of the darkness of the night, you see someone walking on the water. It’s no wonder the disciples thought Jesus was a ghost and “cried out in fear”! Wouldn’t you in that situation? But Jesus reassures them with the words, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” The words “it is I” are a subtle reference to Jesus’ divinity, for they line up with the divine name revealed in the Old Testament: “I AM.” Here, through this incredible miracle, the veil is lifted a bit for the disciples, giving them a glimpse that there is more to Jesus than first meets the eye. Their reaction at the end of the event, when they pay him “homage” and confess him as the “Son of God,” further evidences this revelation.
Initially, however, Peter is the only one to speak up, while we might imagine the others still cowering in fear. Peter, the leader of the Apostles, shows great faith in his willingness to get out of the boat. He trusts that if it truly is Jesus, then Jesus can also allow him to walk on the water. Peter’s leap of faith ought to serve as an example to us that we need to trust Jesus and get out of the “boat” of our comfort zone to follow him, even if following him means going into the storm. Peter was miraculously able to walk on the water and, therefore, have stability in the midst of the waves, as long as he kept his eyes on Jesus and trusted Him. However, once he began to doubt and be distracted, he began to sink and cried out, “Lord, save me!” In a similar way, when we take our eyes off Jesus in life and don’t trust Him, we lose our footing and begin to sink into the waves of life. In the midst of that situation, we must humble ourselves, call out to Jesus for help, and welcome His saving help. As with Peter, Jesus will reach down and save us.
Application:
- God is speaking to us, but His voice often comes in the silence of our hearts. With all the busyness and noise in our world, it is difficult to quiet ourselves to listen to the “tiny whispering sound” of God’s voice. Take time this week for silence and invite God to speak to you.
- Do you often feel like the storms of life are raging all around you? Jesus calls you to get out of the boat and trust him. He can provide stability in the midst of the storms of life. Will you trust Him and keep your eyes fixed on Him? If so, He will keep you afloat in life and can do miraculous work in your life. And even when we fail to trust, He is there to pick us back up.
