Nineteenth Sunday of the Year: A: August 13, 2023

 CONFIDENCE BUILDING MEASURES: 'IT IS I, DO NOT BE AFRAID'

First Reading: 1 Kings 19: 9 and 11-13

Second Reading: Romans 9: 1-5

Gospel Reading: Matthew 14: 22-33

   *First reading is from the first book of Kings. The sorry plight of Prophet Elijah is described in detail. He is fleeing for his life because his enemies are trying to kill him. When everything seems to be lost, suddenly he hears the voice of the Lord God. The voice of the Lord God comes to him not in a mighty wind or in a powerful earthquake. It comes to him in the gentle breeze. Prophet Elijah's experience of the Lord God should remind us that the Lord God often comes to us in our lives not with powerful and awesome signs but He comes to us in silence and in gentle whispers. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Romans. Paul narrates to the Christian community at Rome and to us about his own sorrows and anguish. His sufferings are due to the fact that his fellow Jews refuse to accept the Lord Jesus as their Messiah. He expresses his willingness to forgo everything he has for the sake of the Jews who are not ready to become sons of God through the mediation of Jesus Christ. 

Jesus walks on the sea                                                                       Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. A detailed account of how Jesus miraculously walks on the sea and comes to the disciples who were frightened by the rough sea and the wind is given. Whole day long Jesus had been breaking the Word of God and healing many who were sick and possessed by evil powers. His disciples had gone in a boat to the sea of Galilee. At day break, when it was still dark, Jesus comes to them walking on the sea. The disciples are terrified because they thought they saw a ghost. Jesus immediately assures them, 'Take heart, it is I ; do not be afraid.' In the same way, Jesus assures each one of us who are worried and frightened by the many challenging situations in life, the many visible and the invisible ghosts of this world. When we recognize the Lord and put our trust in Him, we too will become confident and courageous to face many challenging situations in life. In the later part of the Gospel, Peter wants to walk on the water as Jesus does. On his request, the Lord grants him that privilege. However, when he starts to walk on the sea, seeing the rough sea and the waves, he is frightened and begins to sink. He cries for help. Jesus saves him and reproaches him for his lack of faith. Yes, we too can sink to the bottom if we do not focus our lives on Jesus and lose our faith. Jesus' assurance to the disciples is for all of us. He is  ever ready to help us in times of uncertainty and turmoil. 

"Have no fear of moving into the unknown. Simply step out fearlessly knowing that I am with you, therefore no harm can befall you." - St. John Paul II (Pope)

"I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it." - Late Nelson Mandela