1 Kgs 19: 9-11, Rom 9: 1-5, Mt 14: 22-33.
A
preacher relates an experience of turbulence while aboard an aircraft.
The pilot announces an oncoming storm that would give the aircraft a
very tough time. He is still speaking when the storm arrives, and the
turmoil is extremely distressing as the plane battles in mid-air.
The
impending air disaster devastates everyone as people keep screaming and
making endless supplications to their respective subjects of creed.
Amid the frenzy is a girl of about seven years who appears unperturbed
as she holds onto her story book.
The
preacher could not understand the calm disposition of the little, and
he decides to keep cool because he is as worried as everyone. Thanks to
God the turbulence comes to a stop.
When
it was conducive enough to have a conversation, the preacher approaches
the little girl to ask her why she did not worry when the aircraft was
in turmoil. She replies and says that the pilot is her dad and he often
tells her that storms sometimes come during flight but
they also pass
and the journey continues. The preacher prods her further and asks, "so
you believe that your dad will get the aircraft through the storm and
the girl replies and says "Yes! He does that every time this is not the
first time". What a firm faith in an earthly father!
The
readings for this week speak of God's saving presence among His people
and the need for trusting Faith in our loving and providing God Who
always keeps us company, and the need of prayer in storms of life. When
life becomes tough and rough many people learn to turn to God for help:
Our first reading today (1 Kgs 19: 9-11), underscores this fact of life.
It tells that the Prophet Elijah was weary after his conflicts with the
prophets of Baal. Because of his opposition to idolatry, Queen Jezebel
wanted to kill him. So, he fled to Mount Horeb or Sinai and took shelter
in a cave. Here, with beaten and broken heart, Elijah preferred to die
than to continue to suffer. But in the cave he experienced the presence
of God: A voice said to him, "Go outside and stand on the mountain
before the Lord who will be passing by." And he did so - A heavy wind
blew, then an earthquake; followed by fire, the Lord was in none of
them.
And
after the fire there was a tiny whispering sound. And Elijah stood at
the entrance of the cave" (1 kg 19: 9ff); and he experienced God in a
gentle breeze. Thus, strengthened by this experience Elijah was able to
go on with his life. In this same way, our readings today assure us of
God's love and care in difficult times of our lives: They tell that in
the midst of our trials and tribulations, God extends his hands of help
to us. He calms our frightened hearts through his quiet presence.
In
a similar vein, the Gospel (reading Mt 14: 22-33), underscores this
truth of God's love and care for His children: It relates how when
Jesus' disciples are caught in high winds and rough seas, Jesus comes to
them walking on the waters: He calms the storm, and calms their fears;
and brings them to safety. The incident of Peter doubting and beginning
to sink; and later saved represents any believer in Christ caught
between faith and doubt. Like Peter such a disciple sinks. And like
Peter Jesus' rebuke, " O Man of little faith, why did you doubt?"
There
is something interesting about today's readings. This is simply the
fact that, all the three great figures and personalities (Elijah, Paul,
and Peter) we encountered in the readings were in one way or the other
embattled. As such, their peace was threatened. First, Elijah was
fearful and running away from Ahab and his wicked wife Jezebel, who
wanted him dead at all cost. Second, Paul was ravaged by sorrow and
anguish due to the unbelief of his "fellow brothers of Israel." This was
a great burden that threatened his peace of mind. Third, Peter was
sinking right in front of Jesus, due to fear, his lack of faith and
courage. This is the dilemma of our lives. In one way or the other, our
peace is threatened.
In
the gospel, the disciples of Jesus experienced the storm of their life,
and Jesus was available to calm it, and equally, restore their peace.
"Storms" are part and parcel of our human existence. They are inevitable
in this world, just as the waves are inevitable in the sea, and death
is inevitable to us.
The
disciples are like most of us - we believe that the Lord is with us,
but our trust is quite conditional. Like Peter, we all have faith. Like
him also we often lose our faith when we face some turbulence or when we
find ourselves in the eye of the storm. Our storms come in different
shapes and sizes. Some could be facing health storms; some have marriage
or relationship storms, some may be grappling with financial storms,
for others it could be a job, career, or academic storms. Sometimes they
come through a turbulent period in a marriage; when we can't find work,
or there's barely enough to raise the children; when our spouse dies
and the children are still young; when cancer is taking its time with us
or a loved one. All of them have one common characteristic; they do not
last and mostly when we confront them with our faith perspective and
keep our focus on God.
Like
Peter we may start out with confidence, but soon we notice that the
wind is really strong and the water is really deep. Our confidence turns
to fear. Today's gospel assures us that Jesus also stretches out his
hand to save us with those words that must have been spoken with
affection: "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" Another life
implication emerges if we shift our focus from the disciples to Jesus.
Matthew notes that before the episode on the stormy sea, Jesus had gone
up on a mountain by himself to pray.
Sometimes,
they hit us so hard that we feel crushed, devastated, and almost
annihilated. Like the disciples of Jesus, each one of us experiences the
storm in diverse ways in our lives. That is, the storm that robs us of
our peace. However, when they encounter Christ, our peace is restored
and they disappear. Hence, Paul wrote: "We are afflicted in every way,
but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair, persecuted, but
not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed, always carrying in the
body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in
our bodies (2 Cor 4: 8-9). As we gather on this mountain today to pray
like Elijah and Jesus, let us remember that, in our storms, waves and
life's turbulence, Jesus is the source of peace and calm! And we want to
always listen to him say to us "Take courage, it is I; do not be
afraid"!
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