19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

After Jesus had multiplied the loaves and fed the vast crowd, He “made the disciples get into a boat and precede him to the other side.” So begins today’s gospel. As He made his disciples leave in the boat, He would have known that a storm was coming. Yet, He sent them anyways. It will offer them, and us, another lesson on being a disciple.

Jesus then went up the mountain to pray. Jesus took time to pray. Do you?

After praying, Jesus went to join his disciples. They were still on the boat which “was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it.” How did Jesus go to them? Did He have another boat? No, He walked on water.

Did the disciples rejoice when they saw Jesus walking towards them on the water? No! Instead of rejoicing they were terrified! I think it is safe to say it was the first time they saw anyone walk on water. They did not understand. They assumed it must be a ghost and so, “they cried out in fear.“

Jesus knew their fears. Hearing their cry, He said to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Jesus sent them out into the storm but He did not leave them alone. He knows the storms we face before we do. He never leaves us alone.

Peter’s faith was still forming but he has enough faith to say to Jesus, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” Jesus responds, “Come.” Peter actually gets out of the boat and starts to walk on water. Peter has a greater faith than I. I don’t think you would have gotten me out of that boat to walk on water. If I had known the storm was coming, I probably won’t have wanted to get into the boat… well except for Jesus. If He says so…

Peter’s faith was not yet perfect. “He became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Peter’s plea for help did not go unnoticed and neither do ours. “Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand caught Peter.” When we are sinking, Jesus will hold us up if we place our trust in him. It doesn’t mean that we won’t face storms. Please note that it is only after Jesus rescued Peter and they had both gotten into the boat that “the wind died down.”

We will face storms in our lives. These storms are not reasons for doubt. They are reasons for us to embrace our faith and trust in Jesus.

Peter was not the first person to fear for his own safety when doing the Lord’s Will (and neither was he the last). We need to look no further than our first reading. As the reading begins, Elijah took shelter in a cave. Why? Because he was afraid. Who was he afraid of? Jezebel. In the chapter (18) just before today’s first reading, Elijah has his infamous battle with “the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah who eat at Jezebel’s table.” Elijah is victorious. Now, Jezebel is trying to kill him.

In fear, Elijah flees. God knows what is going on. He knows Elijah is afraid. Did He strike Elijah down for his doubt? No! The Lord comes to Elijah in the midst of his fear and doubt.

How did the Lord come to Elijah?

“A strong and heavy wind” came. At times in the Bible the wind is the breath of God. The wind that day was so powerful as to crush rocks but on that day, “the LORD was not in the wind.“

There was a powerful earthquake. At times the earth shakes at the Lord’s presence but that day “the LORD was not in the earthquake.”

Then came fire. God had appeared to Moses in the burning bush but on that day with Elijah, “the LORD was not in the fire.”

Has God ever appeared to you in the wind? How about an earthquake or fire? I suspect that your answer is no. That does not mean the Lord is not with you.

What came after the fire? “A tiny whispering sound.” The Lord was present in the whisper and Elijah knew it. Thus, “Elijah hid his face in the cloak.”

The Lord is present with you in every storm you face. The Lord is present with you in this very moment. Are you aware of his presence?

What keeps us from being aware of the Lord’s presence? We need to enter the silence to hear his whisper. What worldly things distract you from the silence? Are you willing to let there be silence? Or are you afraid of the silence?

Why would anyone be afraid of the silence? Are you afraid of what God might say to you? Do you want to listen to him?

I love the silence. I want to get away from all the noise. Even so, it is not easy to find the silence. At Mass, there are periods where the rubrics specifically call for silence. Those moments of silence are not always easy for me. I am often thinking of what comes next but it is when we allow ourselves to enter into the silence that we may encounter God.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff