18TH Sunday in ordinary Time. Year A. 10th August. 2008
An anonymous writer once wrote: “What good is it having a man who can walk on water, unless you can follow in his steps?” - But this gospel makes it very clear… if we are really to follow in the footsteps of Jesus…. and this leads us sometimes into unsteady waters…. unchartered territory…. we have to trust our leader completely… we must trust that Jesus is our lord… he does have the words of eternal life.. he does love us and care for us… and want the very best for us…. // we must be willing to be called forth by Christ in the very heart of the storm… and to trust in his companionship with us…in the ups and downs and storms of life…… and that takes enormous courage… enormous trust…… St peter shows us this… and the real fears and doubts we can experience along the way….
Peter’s encounter with Jesus is interesting … “if it is you Lord… (if it is you??... he doubts still…..)…. Bid me to come across the water”.. and he does… but Peter sinks without Jesus…. Peter’s ministry, (and our ministry, our lives)… is inextricably and essentially connected to Jesus… /./ Without Jesus, we’re sunk !……. We need to stay next to Jesus and close to his message or else we’re well and truly out of our depth….
Saint Peter clearly also represents us (the “church,”) …So, we come to understand ourselves by standing in Saint Peter’s shoes. Being human, we will always be vulnerable, not simply to harm but also to fear, doubt, and hesitation. The storm will frighten us, and the sea could well drown us. These fears are quite real; the challenge is to live boldly despite (or beyond) the fear and the danger. We have to be willing to get out of the boat, with heart pounding and mind racing, our eyes fixed always on Jesus and his one-word command: “Come.” (—Alice Camille)
The first reading and the gospel seem to be a strong contrast… elijah meets God whose presence is indicated by a “tiny whispering sound” …. and Jesus is encountered.. taming the raging stormy waters…… but in a sense … whether it be in storms or silence… / dramatic or ordinary… the message is the same… God is present and active amongst us and with us…. and the signs are there… if we search and listen with the eyes and ears of faith.
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In this week of vocations … I recall the writer and public speaker Michael Whelan once saying: “one of the major roles of the priest (or any Christian in any form of leadership), is to constantly remind ourselves (and the community) of OUR TRUE IDENTITY . This TRUE IDENTITY is found through the great promise of the covenant: Jesus says… (God says)… I AM WITH YOU… That is not a guarantee of constant success or even comfort… // it is an important fact.. // Whatever comes.. God is with us…// truly with us…. // Never leaving us… God promises us… above all else….. follow me…..come with me…….. go where I lead you…… I am with you always……..
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weekday reflections:
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
That sinking feeling
Two of the most well-known stories in scripture—God’s coming to Elijah in a “tiny whispering sound” and Jesus’ walk on the water—say a lot about our spiritual journey. Elijah was not in a good way. He lived in a bad place with a bad king, the other prophets were dead, and Queen Jezebel had a contract out on his life. Saint Peter also had a problem: Boldly stepping out on the water to walk to his Lord, he got scared and started to go under. For both these holy people in distress, God came to the rescue. When things get tough, we can, like them, lose our nerve. But we know God will answer. The trick may be to have that confidence before we get into trouble.
Today’s
“Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.”
Monday, August 11
Feast of Clare, virgin
A prayer for the road
Houses in
Today’s
“The hand of the Lord was on him there.”
Tuesday, August 12
A taste of honey
Is there anything in the Old Testament weirder or more alien than what the prophet Ezekiel wrote? Ezekiel did eat a scroll, gave himself a strange haircut, and saw things rarely reported by people who aren’t hallucinating. But his were unusual times, with
Today’s
“The Lord God said to me: O mortal, eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of
Wednesday, August 13
Wings, wheels, and wisdom
When we think “cherubim,” most of us imagine that chubby little angel sitting on Grandma’s bookshelf. But the cherubim, who play a role in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, are grander and more intimidating than modern-day cherubs. In Christianity they are the second highest of nine choirs of angels. Ezekiel describes them as curious creatures with both wings and wheels—which have given centuries of artists a field day trying to illustrate. Cherubim also have many eyes, which is why they received the attribute of wisdom. Their main job is to worship God continuously—which is what the wise do.
Today’s
“The cherubim lifted up their wings and rose up from the earth in my sight as they went out with the wheels beside them.”
Thursday, August 14
Feast of Maximilian Mary Kolbe, priest, martyr
Read all about it
Maximilian Kolbe (1894-1941) was a Franciscan Friar who volunteered to die in place of a stranger in the Nazi concentration camp of Auschwitz in
Today’s
“I am a sign for you: as I have done, so shall it be done to them.”
Friday, August 15
Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
With us always
It has often been observed that “as the church prays, so she believes.” That is especially true with respect to the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It had been widely celebrated for centuries when Pope Pius XII finally declared this belief dogma in 1950. What do we believe through the Assumption? That Mary remains present in the church and the world. That she is a living being with whom we can share our deepest fears and longings. That she is our mother, our advocate, our model of faithfulness and obedience to God. As for the institution, so for the individual: What do your prayers (and actions) say about what you believe?
Today’s
“Behold, from now on all ages will call me blessed.”
Saturday, August 16
The right stuff
God makes it clear that God judges on the basis of one’s own behavior, not because of what one’s ancestors did—the latter being a common belief captured in a proverb: The father ate green grapes and the son’s teeth are set on edge. God says this proverb is out the window. In Matthew, Jesus stops those who would prevent children from bothering him for a hug and a blessing. It’s charming and sweet but not sentimental. For Jesus children are symbols of the little ones to whom the kingdom belongs, and he welcomes all with open arms. Jesus has enough of priests and Pharisees deciding who is “in” and who is “out” of God’s good graces. Our own distinctions and divisions also carry no weight with the Holy One. As the song says, “All are welcome in this place”—no matter which side of the tracks, or blanket, you were born on.
Today’s
“Let the little children come to me and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.”
©2008 by TrueQuest Communications, L.L.C. Phone: 800-942-2811; e-mail:
Contributors: Father Paul Boudreau, Alice Camille, Daniel Grippo, Father Larry Janowski, Ann O’Connor, Sean Reynolds, Joel Schorn, and Patrice J. Tuohy
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