Unafraid With Christ
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A (13/08/2023)
(1 Kings 19:9a, 11-13a; Psalm 85:9, 10, 11-12, 13-14; Romans 9:1-5; Matthew 14:22-33)
Fr. Samuel Odeh
“But immediately he spoke to them, saying, “Take heart, it is I; have no fear”” (Matthew 14:26)
As servants of God and disciples of Christ Jesus, we have been blessed with the duty and responsibility of ministering to others, making the God we have encountered known to them, and leading them to share our faith in Jesus Christ. Sometimes, though, we are held back by our own fears, our own misperceptions, our own poor eyesight and vision, our own unsteady hands, our own doubts, or even by the real dangers and threats from those things or persons we believe are against us. Where can we find God at times like these when the going gets tough? Do I refuse to recognize the presence and voice of God in the places and manners that I am not used to expecting God? When Christ comes to us do we recognize him and welcome him into our boats? Are we able to keep our eyes and focus on Jesus or are we easily distracted?
In our first reading from the first book of Kings the prophet Elijah, escaping from Jezebel who had promised to kill him as revenge for his slaughter of the prophets of her own religion on Mount Carmel, arrives at Mount Horeb, the mountain of God, after a forty-day journey into the wilderness, on the strength of food provided by God. He entered a cave and waited to meet God. All the powerful events and occurrences that the people of Israel associate with the coming and presence of God take place: a mighty wind that breaks rocks and splits mountains; an earthquake; a fire. God did not reveal himself in any of these but in a “still small voice”. Elijah recognized the presence of God in the still small voice and went and stood at the entrance of the cave to speak with him. In today’s psalm, we are told that God is the source of salvation for all those who worship him: “His salvation is near for all who fear him…” (Psalm 85:9). In our second reading from Romans Paul describes the nation of Israel, his own people, as a highly gifted people whose privileged status has become a stumbling block that has kept them from accepting Jesus as the Son of God. He was willing to give up what was most precious to him, namely, his bond with Jesus Christ, if only it will save them. In the gospel reading Jesus, after feeding five thousand people using five loaves and two fish, sends his disciples ahead of him in a boat across the sea, dismisses the crowds, and goes up the mountain alone and by himself to pray. In the “fourth watch” of the night, between three o’clock and six o’clock in the morning, the disciples, whose lives are now in danger as their boat is about to capsize because of the heavy winds and waves, see Jesus coming towards them, walking on the sea. At first, they thought he was a ghost and so Peter puts him to the test. At first, Peter is able to walk on the water toward Jesus for as long as he has his eyes and focus on him. Peter walks on the water in response to Jesus’ invitation to “Come.” However Peter’s fear and doubt later get the better of him and he began to sink. Jesus rescues him and as soon as they get into the boat there was calm and they were safe from danger. The disciples then worshipped Jesus as the Son of God.
Are we like Elijah in today’s first reading, running to God out of fear for our lives and needing to recognize God in the still small voices of life? Do we allow our privileged status as children of God to become an obstacle in our hearing the voice of God and recognizing his presence in our lives? Are we like Peter in today’s gospel reading who accept Jesus’ invitation at first but give in to fear and doubt and begin to sink? If we trust in Jesus and do not take our eyes and focus off of him, if we accept him completely as Messiah, we also will be able to do the things that Jesus does. We will share in the ministry of Jesus: we will be able to feed a huge number with the little we have and we will be able to walk on water and calm fears and doubts in ourselves and in others. Through us, others shall come to believe in Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God. May we listen attentively, with the ears of our hearts, to the still small voice of God in our lives. May we always keep our eyes and focus on Jesus especially in the stormy seas of life as we answer his call and meet with him in the Eucharist.
Lord Jesus, I believe; help my unbelief (Mark 9:24).
