Readings: 1 Kings 19:9, 11-13; Romans 9:1-5; Matthew 14:22-33
Take Courage, it
is I!
1. Today we are presented with the faith of Elijah in the first reading and Peter in the Gospel. In the 17th chapter of the first book of Kings, we read about Elijah’s effort to win Israel back from the precipice of collapse and decadence to the worship of the true God. Due to his zeal for God and burning with righteous indignation, Elijah killed the 450 prophets of Baal. They had turned people away from the worship of God. Elijah’s action infuriated Jezebel, the wife of King Ahab, who was a passionate promoter of paganism and the worship of the Canaanite god, Baal. Jezebel threatened Elijah with a death sentence. She said, “May the gods do thus and so to me if by this time tomorrow, I have not done with your life what was done to each of them.” (1 Kings 19:2). Elijah had no choice but to run for dear life, begging God to take his life. God did not take his life but instead fed him miraculously. Strengthened by this nourishment, Elijah came to the mountain of God called Horeb; there, God revealed himself to Elijah in a light breeze. God does not always appear to us in thunder, lightning, and earthquake. He is as effective and powerful in a gentle wind as in a more provocative and dramatic phenomenon. Elijah’s faith was tested. He almost gave up on life, but God showed up and changed his fortune and destiny. He renewed his faith because he gazed at God rather than on himself. He listened to God and allowed God to direct his life. It is incredible what we can hear when we pay attention to God’s words. Meditation and contemplation are types of prayers that enable us to listen to God extraordinarily.
2. If we did not celebrate the feast of the Transfiguration of Christ last Sunday, we would have witnessed the miracle of the multiplication of loaves and two fish and the feeding of five thousand men, women, and children, not counted. In today’s reading, we are told that after this heavenly banquet, Christ made his disciples get into a boat and precede him to the other side while he dismissed the crowds. He made sure that everyone was adequately taken care of and sent home. He then went up the mountain to seek quiet time with his Father, be alone, rest, and pray. Nothing would prevent him from keeping the divine appointment with his father. He would pray at night if he couldn’t pray during the day. By honoring the divine appointment with his Father, Christ would be energized and strengthened to carry out his mission. By listening to God, we, too, will get to know God’s will for us. Are we too busy to pray? Learn from Christ, the Son of God. He needed to spend time with the one who sent him to be effective and productive in his mission. Prayer is the key to a successful life, a fruitful ministry, and a committed Christian life.
3. While praying on that mountain, Christ sensed his disciples were in trouble at sea. They were struggling as their boat was buffeted by strong wind and waves, so he swung into action. “It is I, do not be afraid,” he assured them. Peter asked, “If it is, you bid me come to you on the water.” Christ invited him, and he stepped on the water while keeping his eyes fixed on Christ. As soon as he took his eyes off Jesus, he began to go down into the water. Then he cried out for help, “Lord, save me!”
4. The raging waves of the sea can be compared to the storms of our lives. At times our lives are ravaged by turbulent waves of atrocities and adversities. No matter how much we fix our gaze on Jesus, he seems to pass us by. Our faith has been tested repeatedly, like that of Peter and Elijah. How do we handle the stormy weather of broken relationships and shattered dreams? Unfortunately, some of our storms are self-inflicted; we struggle to free ourselves from the shackles of misguided dreams and misplaced priorities. We are drowned by worldly desires that drag us down each time we try to get up. How do we deal with the waves of drugs in our families, malignant ailments, and cancerous afflictions that defile all logic? Our Church is not spared the turbulent waves of sin, deceit, cover-up, and unaccountability of sexual misconduct and impropriety. How do we deal with mistrust among people we should trust all our life? Innumerable problems and unanswerable questions in our families, places of work, and friends weigh us down like stone in the water. At times like this, we cry out like Peter, Lord, save us; we are drowning. And Christ will ask us, men and women of little faith, why did you doubt? It is I, do not be afraid.
5. These readings teach us that no matter the condition of our faith, Christ will meet us in the hour of our needs. He will come to us as he went to the disciples in the rough and turbulent sea. He knows our needs; he is always willing to assist us. No matter our waves be it lousy marriage, struggle with temptation, dealing with depression, or grieving the loss of a loved one, we are not alone. Jesus tells us, “In the world, you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” (Jn. 16:33). Just like the wind died down and there was calm when Jesus entered the boat, if we invite Jesus into our boats, he will calm our storm and grant us peace. May God bless and assure us of his presence in our lives now and always. Amen.
Rev. Augustine
Etemma Inwang, MSP
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