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Sunday, August 9th, 2020, Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

SELECT HERE for the Readings of Sunday, August 9th, 2020, Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

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Sunday, August 9th, 2020, Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

...After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound.  When he heard this, Elijah his his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.
A voice said to him, Why are you here, Elijah?
1 Kings 19: 12-13 

TO BELIEVE IN (OR BE LOYAL TO) GOD,
IS TO REACH OUT TO OTHERS

What is the most daring thing you've done?

Around the middle of the 9^th B.C., Elijah, the prophet, incurred the wrath of Queen Jezebel by speaking out against her cultural colonization of the northern kingdom of Israel.  She was ruthless in propagating Baalism. (The ancient pagan god, Baal of fertility, was widely worshipped in that region).  This was however in opposition to authentic Yahwehism (God and the Commandments) which was the religion of the people.  Anything against Yahweh and his relationship with the people was not accepted by Elijah, so he confronted the powerful Queen.  This however put the zealous and fiery prophet’s life in great danger.  However much he tried to convince the people not to convert to this new religion, he was unsuccessful and disappointed.  At some point Elijah cannot stay in this land, so he flees. For forty days and nights, he journeys to Mount Horeb (or Sinai) also known as the ‘mountain of revelation’ (God appears to the great Moses here).  It is here that he might possibly find his roots.
 
One day the Spirit of the Lord commanded him to go to the entrance of the cave where he had taken shelter, where the Lord will be passing by. Elijah waits there. Strong heavy winds, an earthquake and a fire all pass by, but the Lord is in neither of these. (Wind, earthquake and fire are traditional symbols of the divine presence).  After the fire, there comes ‘a light gentle whispering breeze or sound’; when Elijah hears this, he covers his face, for the Lord is now here. 
 
What is the point of the first reading- Elijah must know that God in his own way without fanfare (fire, powerful winds etc.) will work his will for Elijah.  There is a new face of God that is his ‘prophetic word’.  It will happen.  Elijah must dare now.  Renewed, he must return to his mission and it will be accomplished by God.  He must never doubt.  Loyalty to God means sharing God’s concerns-reaching out in trust and faith to others.
 
Have you fled from what you should have stood up to in your life? Where, When and Why? 
 
After the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus gets away to the mountain to pray. The disciples in the meantime wait for him in the boat at sea.  On the fourth watch of the night, Jesus returns.  There were strong winds at sea and the boat was being tossed about. As Jesus approaches the disciples, they think he is a ghost.  Jesus spoke –‘Take courage it is I; do not be afraid’.  The gospel story however is focused on Peter, who then replies that Lord if it is you, command that I come to you on water.  Jesus says, ‘Come’.  For a while indeed, Peter walks on water, but then he turns his focus on the strong wind and he becomes frightened and immediately begins to sink.   After crying out for help, Jesus stretched his hand and caught Peter saying: “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
 
Peter represents in the story, ‘doubt and wavering trust’ in God’s plan.  He represents the Church and ‘us’.  He will soon share more responsibilities and be the leader of the disciples.  So today, he is ‘tested’.  His renewed faith is not only for himself alone.  He was now their Leader.  He too must now go offer solidity and strength to those who experience discouragement, doubt, and frustration.
 
When we perceive other people’s discouragement, are we merely content to shrug our shoulders? When we notice other people’s doubts, are we happy to leave them in their doubts?  When we hear other people’s frustration, are we reluctant to make their frustration our own.  Is our faith only individual?  Loyalty to God means reaching out to others.
 
We are challenged to confront indifference in our society.  Indifference to despair and hopelessness that engulfs many today.  We must opt, as Christians, to always communicate compassion and understanding.
 
Does sharing in the Eucharist mean God the Father who reaches out to us through his loyal son?  How then can we be ‘food and drink’ of others as we dare to reach out?
 
A Blessed Week in the Lord! 

Fr. Anthony



View the below videos for other reflections on the readings.