19th Sunday: Faith or Fear?

(James Tissot)

"Take courage., it is I; do not be afraid."

The Word for Sunday: http://usccb.org/bible/readings/081014.cfm

1 Kng 19: 9a , 11 – 13a
Rm 9: 1-5
Mt. 14: 22-33

One would think from the amount of advertising for sleep aids in this country on TV and the internet that no one enjoys a good night’s sleep. Whether the aid is a combination of natural herbs like valerian root or some more traditional sleeping pills, it seems that nearly everyone needs one now and then.

Most of us have likely had those occasional restless nights when our mind raced with worries or we just can’t seem to settle down. I don’t think there is any more unnerving time to find yourself sleepless around 3 a.m. Somehow at that time your thoughts become loud or your worries become exaggerated as you stare at the alarm clock with frustration. “If only I could find some peace!” you might wish aloud. Bring that experience to the Gospel story this Sunday which takes place in a similar dark and restless hour of early morning.

It begins right after the miraculous multiplication of the loaves and fish. Matthew seems to imply the crowds and the disciples were reluctant to leave that glory moment. “Jesus made the disciples get into a boat . . . while he dismissed the crowds.” Jesus “made” the disciples and then “dismissed” the crowds of now satisfied people. “He escapes the temptation for earthly glory and goes, “. . . up on the mountain by himself to pray” while the disciples are now boat bound on the lake in a scene about to change dramatically.

Not unlike the encounter heard in our first reading from the Book of Kings. The prophet Elijah, an Old Testament foreshadow of the Messiah, hears the Lord say: “Go outside and stand on the mountain before the Lord, the Lord will be passing by.” As Elijah waits he realizes God will come not in the more violent and dramatic powers of nature but in a “tiny whispering sound.” Our God is one of peace and calm; of faith and not fear; of strength and courage.

So the Apostles filled with fear and tossed about in the waves and wind on the Sea of Galilee, surrounded by the more intense powers of nature, encounter Jesus coming to them walking on the churning waves. As he responds to Peter’s impulsive loyalty: "Lord, if it is you command me to come to you on the water” like the tiny whispering and calming voice to Elijah, Jesus speaks one word: “Come.” What a request Peter made. To do the impossible is less impressed in Peter's mind than to come to Jesus. What faith he expresses despite his obvious fear.

To Peter: "Come"

I would imagine that Peter walking on the stormy sea towards Jesus must have left the disciples stunned and speechless as the waves and wind continued to threaten their boat. In the dark night, at 3 am., like our sometimes restless sleep, Jesus approaches on the sea. He had no intention of frightening his disciples further but to be peace in the calm of the storm reassure them with his power. Jesus' response as Peter sinks, distracted by the wind and waves, is spoken to all of us who doubt: “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And all calms down when Jesus enters the boat.

What guides our lives: faith or fear? I think for the vast majority of us, it all depends on the situation. Peter’s faith as for all of us is essentially an expression of his loyalty and trust in Jesus Christ. Do we really believe his promise? If we think that God abandons us in times of trial and difficulty remember that Jesus came to his disciples to calm their fears. He didn’t stay on the mountain alone where he was wrapped in prayer but went to them to calm the storm around them. He walked into their experience to support them.

The boat in which the disciples are riding can be seen as a symbol of the Church. The waves and wind reflect the not unfamiliar experience of the early Christians who found themselves confronted with hostility, pagan values, and outright persecution. As we consider the experience of present day Christians in so many parts of the world is it really much different? In Iraq and other countries the storms are raging. And so we must be a source of prayerful support who call out to God to enter our stormy lives and reassure us.

Yet are we only fair weather Christians? When the sea is calm it's easy to believe. When the storm blows, when our faith is tested, I may either stay in the boat hoping to ride out the wind lost in confusion and fear or I get out, fix my gaze on a Christ who is our peace in the midst of the storm.

We are called to be loyal and with trust to embrace all that Jesus is for us. There is never any need for despair, hopelessness or to feel lost or abandoned. Our lives should aim to be based in faith and not in fear. In the midst of both good times and in tough times, like couples who live the sacrament of matrimony, they remain loyal to each other and so the same is far truer of our God.

Our celebration of the Eucharist is there to remind us that this God paid the ultimate price in the death and resurrection of his own Son for us to win over our loyalty. To show us that he is not a God who remains on the mountain but who walks towards us and is there to save us from fear.

Lofty hopes indeed but imagine living without that promise! Imagine living with no faith; nowhere to go in times of stormy seas or nowhere or no one to offer gratitude in times that are good. Our God is here.

Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing;
God only is changeless.
Patience gains all things.
Who has God wants nothing.
God alone suffices.

(St. Theresa of Avila: 1515 - 1582)

Regnum Christi

Peter On the Water and In the Water

U. S. A. | SPIRITUAL LIFE | SPIRITUALITY

August 10, 2014. Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Matthew 14: 22-33

Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid." Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

Introductory Prayer: Father, I believe in you with all my heart. I trust in your infinite goodness and mercy. Thank you for so patiently guiding me along the pathway to everlasting life. I love you and offer all that I have and all that I do to you, for your glory and the salvation of souls.

Petition: Lord, help me to trust in you when I am making my decisions.

1. The Divine Name: As if being battered by the wind and waves weren’t enough to instill a feeling of doom and dread, in the midst of it all, the apostles saw a shadowy figure gliding along the water. They were scared! Who wouldn’t be? Jesus speaks directly to their fear. “Take heart, it is I,” – literally in early Greek translation, “I am.” This is biblical code language that evokes in a powerful way the presence of God. When Moses stood before the burning bush, at a loss as to how he, the tongue-tied fugitive from Egypt, was supposed to go back to the Pharaoh and convince that hardened soul to liberate the enslaved Hebrews, he felt he just could not do it. God’s answer to Moses’ hesitation and doubt was to tell Moses his name, “I AM”. God’s very name is presence, and that presence brings reassurance. We are not alone as we face life’s challenges.

2. Walking on Water: Peter’s gut reaction is to believe in Christ. “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” As he stands up in the boat, preparing for that daring leap, the other disciples are hunkered down, still holding on for dear life. Peter’s faith inspires us: At times we face crucial decisions and feel like we are about to jump out of a boat as well. The indecision we experience can seem rational. We don’t want to drown, after all. But Peter’s leap was not simply blind or foolhardy. He knew that by himself he was better off putting on a life jacket. But Christ was commanding him, “Come.” This story is not a recipe for rashness. It is a story of faith-filled obedience. When we know in our heart of hearts that Jesus has said “Come,” the leap that we take is a good decision because it is grounded in faith and trust.

3. A Helping Hand: Peter takes the leap, but he brings all his flaws with him as he lands on the solid water. The wind and the waves overwhelm his awareness of the miracle, and along with the doubt he finds himself in the water. How beautiful that Peter’s very fall awakens his faith again. He does not attempt to rely on his own swimming prowess to get back into the boat. He cries out, “Lord, save me.” Christ’s heart is filled with mercy. He immediately stretches out his hand to save his water-logged vicar. He is anxious for Peter—and us—to learn the lesson. “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” In other words, “Don’t take your eyes off of me! I will keep you afloat.”

Conversation with Christ: Lord Jesus, you called Peter to walk on water. As long as he believed in you and your power he was fine, but his doubt got the upper hand. Strengthen my faith so that I can be obedient to you. Help me when the wind and the waves are fierce, and the inclination to doubt asserts itself. Help me to stay on top of the water!

Resolution: I will pray first and then make faith-filled decisions today.

By Father Steven Reilly, L.C.

A Still Small Voice

Dr. Mark Giszczak

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August 10, 2014
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
First Reading: 1 Kings 19:9a, 11-13a

What is in a whisper? When someone whispers, we quiet down, sharpen our ears and pay attention. A whisper conveys often the most important information–whether intimate words of love or secret words that tell of hidden matters. Whispers are usually more significant than shouts, but they also require more of us. If we fail to pay attention, we could miss the last words of a dying man or a key insight that could change the direction of our lives.

Whispers Good and Bad

Think of all the whispers in Scripture—Jesus’ words on the cross (“I thirst!”), the hushed speech of the lovers in the Song of Songs, the whispered exchanged between Jesus and the Beloved Disciple at the Last Supper. Of course, whispering has its dark side. Gossipers speak in a whisper. Conspirators plot in secret. Whispers, which seem designed for lovers, can be perverted into the tools of betrayal.

An Inviting Tone

The power of the whisper lies not in its overpowering thump as with a loud shout, but in its enticing draw, its invitation to draw near and lean closer. One who whispers invites us to share his secrets, to become one with him in a private, shrouded space. In the same way that lovers seek the seclusion of a long walk in the woods or a conversation behind closed doors, away from the bustle of the world, so too do those who seek God seek a kind of seclusion, a secret space away from others where He can be communed with, whispered to. Jesus invites his followers to such a private communion when he tells them to go into their rooms, close their doors and pray to the Father who sees in secret (Matt 6:6). Intimacy with God does not thrive in bluster, bombast and bravado, but in beautiful simplicity, when the soul finally takes to heart the words of Psalm 46: “Be still and know that I am God.” The moments of deepest prayer are usually moments of quiet awe before the throne of God.

Elijah and the Whisper of God

While we come to him with whispers both intimate and desperate, he strikingly comes to us with whispers of his own. In this Sunday’s reading from 1 Kings, we find Elijah on Mount Horeb waiting for such a whispered revelation from God. The story delivers us a paradox: that God can be expected to do the unexpected. Amazingly and appropriately, Elijah journeys all the way to Horeb to encounter God. The mountain has two names: Horeb and Sinai. It is the place where Moses met God at the burning bush and where God appeared in thunder and lightning to hand down the Ten Commandments. Elijah returns to this special mountain of God’s past revelation to encounter him anew. He goes to a place where he can expect God to show up. But of course, God does not come in the expected fashion. He does not descend in thunder and lightning, nor in fire, nor wind, nor earthquake. This time, he does not shout.

Instead, God speaks to Elijah in a “still, small voice” a whisper. Elijah might have wanted a shout. He was on the run from Ahab and Jezebel who were using their political power to try and kill him. Even though Elijah had just won the showdown with the prophets of Baal, his life was in danger and there was no safe place for him to go. In his moment of desperation, he seeks out the Lord. In the end, the Lord speaks to him and gives him a mission to do.

Is God Hiding?

The story contains an essential lesson for us: God invites, not smites. We like it when God shows up with special effects and smashes rocks before our eyes. Often we want him to talk to us loudly, clearly, with power and authority, but God wants to invite us, to speak to us in an intimate whisper. He is not trying to hide from us, but trying to entice us, to pique our interest, to help us open our hearts to him.

The Secrets of Listening

To me, it is like looking at a masterpiece painting. The uninitiated can often stare and stare without understanding, without “getting it.” Only through detailed study and detailed looking can one unlock the secrets of a masterpiece. It does not give itself away cheaply. In the same way, Jesus warns us against throwing our “pearls before swine.” Finding God and being found by him do not come to those seeking an ostentatious show, but to those willing to listen in secret to words spoken by a whispering voice. Elijah’s patient attention in his moment of need and in the face of fires, earthquakes and other noisy phenomena, reveal the attitude that we want to embrace in prayer. Prayer is often a waiting game, a deep listening, a silent attending.

Much of love lies in listening. The one who can listen to another with patience and sincere attention reveals his love. Whispers invite us to listen more closely. In this case, God’s whispering calls for our attention. Learning to hear his voice is the heart of learning to pray.

Scripture Speaks: Calming the Storm

Gayle Somers

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Today’s Gospel tells us that Jesus let the apostles struggle for many hours in a violent storm before going to them. Why did He wait so long?

Gospel (Read Mt 14:22-33)

After the miraculous feeding of the five thousand (last Sunday’s Gospel), Jesus sent both His disciples and the vast crowd away. The disciples took a boat to the other side of the lake; Jesus would eventually join them there. In the meantime, He “went up on the mountain by himself to pray.” Whenever we see Jesus retreating to solitude for prayer this way, it reminds us that He was a sojourner here. His original and permanent life is in Heaven, in communion with His Father. Like Him, we are also sojourners here. Like Him, we also need solitary times with our Father.

Meanwhile, the apostles encounter a horrific storm at sea. The Greek word describing this storm, which is translated as “tossed about by the waves” in English, literally means “harassed, tortured.” Even for seasoned fishermen, this was quite a storm. Jesus goes to them in “the fourth watch of the night,” or between 3:00 and 6:00 am. The apostles had quite likely been battling this storm most of the night. Why did Jesus wait so long to go to them? Was He so absorbed in prayer that He was unaware of their plight? As the episode unfolds, we increasingly feel that there was a point Jesus wanted to make, a lesson He wanted to teach His friends. If so, this reminds us of Jesus’ purposeful delay in going to his dying friend, Lazarus. In that case, Jesus chose a resurrection from the dead as a more powerful testimony to Himself than a simple cured illness would have been. Was that same dynamic at work here?

Ironically, when Jesus approaches the disciples “walking on the sea,” they are terrified, not relieved. They do not recognize Him. They think He is a “ghost.” Why did they have that reaction? Certainly they didn’t expect to see Jesus (or any human being) walking on water. They had struggled so long against this frightening storm that, in their exhaustion, they had only fear and dread of it. If they were thinking of Jesus at all, maybe they wondered if He would be waiting on the other side for them, if they made it there. Perhaps they were disappointed He hadn’t made the trip with them in the boat. Then, as He had done once before (see Mt 8:23-27), He could have calmed the sea with a command. Here in the tempest, where the sea seemed to be winning its battle against them, the sight of a man walking on water was too strange and ominous for them. They, literally, “screamed” with fear. They did not feel the nearness of Jesus; on the contrary, they felt completely abandoned.

As their fear reached its height, Jesus “immediately” speaks to them: “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” The sound of Jesus’ voice assures them this is no ghost. No matter what their eyes told them, or what their imaginations conjured up, it was the Word Jesus spoke that calmed their fears. Translated literally, Jesus says, “Take heart; I am.” For these Jewish apostles, this self-identification had enormous significance. God, through the prophet, Isaiah, had once said about Himself: “’I am the LORD, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.’ Thus says the LORD, Who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters’” (Isa 43:15-16). God’s covenant name in Israel was “I am.”

We might wonder why Jesus didn’t calm the sea at this point, as He had done previously in a similar situation. There, He had been in the boat, asleep, when the frightened apostles woke Him up to save them. He stilled the waters with a command, and the apostles marveled, asking, “Who is this?” Why did Jesus let the storm waters continue to rage this time? The wonderful Scripture commentator, Erasmo Leiva-Merikakis, has a brilliant comment on this:

“It is crucial that [the disciples] now derive trust and strength from the very place…that a moment ago was to them a source of keenest fear. For this is the chief feature of the Paschal Mystery, that new life should emanate from the place of death…[Jesus] comes to comfort them out of the heart of the storm, where He Himself has been a major cause of their agony. In a pattern that would repeat itself at Calvary, they do not want to look for their Lord in the place of fear. Thus, Jesus must shatter the submarine monster of fear from within, once and for all.” (Fire of Mercy, Heart of the Word, II, pg 377)

When we understand this, we understand the next part of the story, too. Peter longs to join Jesus on the water. Was that out of love for Him, or out of curiosity about a spectacular phenomenon? When Peter goes onto the water, does he expect Jesus would then silence the storm? When the wind and the waves continue, Peter loses his focus. They become more real to him than Jesus. Feeling himself begin to sink, he cries out, “Lord, save me!” He must have been physically quite close to Jesus—just one grasp away—but his fear of the storm got the better of him. His descent into the dark, watery abyss (what Leiva-Merikakis calls “the awful gravity of fear”) restores Peter’s vision. He knows himself to be a weak man, no match for the storm. His only hope is Jesus. One cry for help was all it took. Jesus’ strong hand catches and saves him. With it comes a penetrating question, “Why did you doubt?”

When Jesus and Peter get into the boat, the storm stops. No command, no miracle. The storm had served its purpose. What effect did all this have on the apostles? “Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, ‘Truly, you are the Son of God.’” They are not wondering Who He is anymore. Jesus had given them a remarkable testimony to Himself. In addition, He taught them an important lesson about themselves. These men were destined to do “even greater works” than Jesus (see John 14:12), but Peter’s experience on the water showed them they wouldn’t be able to do anything without Him. Lastly, Jesus taught the apostles not to fear the storm, even when He doesn’t immediately still its turbulence. He surprised them by appearing in its midst; He can surprise us that way, too.

Possible response: Lord Jesus, help me remember that in the heart of the storms I experience, I must look for You.

First Reading (Read 1 Kings 19:9, 11-13)

These verses describe a scene in Israel’s history that followed a remarkable confrontation between the false prophets of Baal and God’s prophet, Elijah, on Mt. Carmel. The people of Israel had wantonly given themselves to the idolatrous worship of Baal. God told Elijah to call all the people together, along with the false prophets, in order to prove once and for all that there is no god in Heaven but the LORD. Elijah called down fire from Heaven in a powerful demonstration of God’s presence; all the false prophets were killed. When the queen of Israel, Jezebel, a worshipper of Baal, heard of this, she called for Elijah’s death. He had to flee for his life to the mountain of God, Horeb. This was not exactly how he thought the victory at Mt. Carmel would turn out!

Elijah wanted to talk to the LORD, and the LORD agreed, telling him, “Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD; the LORD will be passing by.” This is reminiscent of the time Moses wanted to see more of God’s glory on this same mountain hundreds of years earlier, and “the LORD passed by” (see Ex 34:6). It is also foreshadows the many times in the Gospels Jesus is described as “passing by” (see Mk 6:48; Mt 20:30; Lk 18:37), providing testimony to His divinity. As Elijah took his place, there were lots of fireworks as the LORD passed by (wind, earthquake, fire), but the LORD did not speak out of these. This is in contrast to the time when the LORD called Moses and all His people to meet with Him at Horeb (also called Sinai) after He delivered them from bondage in Egypt. “And Mt. Sinai was wrapped in smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire; and…the whole mountain quaked greatly…Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder” (Ex 19:18-19).

Perhaps this is what Elijah was expecting; instead, the LORD spoke in “a tiny whispering sound.” This scene is rich in prophetic meaning, as we well know. Eventually, the LORD would speak His Word in human flesh, even in the tiny, helpless sound of an Infant in a manger. Our Gospel reading helps us to see that the elements of nature, with all their great force and power to frighten us, are no match for the Lord of all creation. Jesus is God’s still, small Voice. It was the sound of Jesus’ Voice over the crashing fury of the storm that comforted the apostles: “Take heart; it is I. Have no fear.”

Possible response: Lord Jesus, help me listen for Your Voice when fear fills my ears with my own.

Psalm (Read Ps 85:9-14)

The psalmist recounts the mercy of the LORD in saving him from death: “Near indeed is salvation for the loyal.” He envisions a day when those who trust in the LORD will have their steps guided by His loving hand. As he writes, “Justice shall walk before him, and prepare the way of his steps.” Had Peter kept his eyes on Jesus, he would have experienced this truth literally. Instead, he had to cry out for help. All who are rescued from death, against all odds (that would be us), can echo the psalmist’s refrain: Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.

Possible response: The psalm is, itself, a response to the other lectionary readings. Read it again to prayerfully make it your own.

Second Reading (Read Rom 9:1-5)

Here St. Paul expresses his great agony over the rejection of Jesus as Israel’s Messiah by most of his contemporaries in Judah. He says, by way of emphasis, that he himself would be willing to be cut off from Christ if that could make a difference for his kinsmen. In this, he follows the example of Moses, who was also willing to be “blotted out” (see Ex 32:32) for the apostasy of God’s people in the wilderness. What makes Israel’s rejection of Jesus so bitter for St. Paul is that their entire history, as God’s chosen people, prepared them to receive, not reject, Jesus. Even in our discussion of today’s readings, we can see how thoroughly Jesus lived His life in fulfillment of the Old Covenant Scriptures. Jews listened to these Scriptures over and over in their synagogue services and Temple liturgies. The psalms, especially, were a constant part of their Jewish life, because they were the prayers of God’s people.

For example, we have to wonder if Peter, as he started to sink into the waves, had this psalm running through his head: “Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me. I am weary with my crying; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God” (Ps 69:1-3).

God showed up in Egypt to save His people from slavery; He showed up in the manger to save His people from sin and death; He showed up on the waters of the storm to save Peter. How St. Paul longed for his kinsmen to accept Christ, “the Messiah. God who is over all be blessed forever. Amen.”

Possible response: Lord Jesus, help us in the Church, Your covenant people today, not to be indifferent to You through self-satisfaction and empty ritual. Help us not to miss You as you constantly show up in the center of all we do.

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