Florida Catholic | Sunday Word

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

On the mountain … on the water

August 10, 2008 :: 1 Kgs 19:9a, 11-13a; Ps 85:9, 10, 11-12, 13-14; Rom 9:1-5; Mt 14:22-33

SISTER SALLIE LATKOVICH | SPECIAL TO THE FLORIDA CATHOLIC

The Scriptures we are given to hear on this Sunday may cause us to ask the questions: Where do I meet God? What is holy ground or holy place for me? Where, when and how have I experienced being saved?

In the training of spiritual directors, the very first assumption is a simple one, yet so profound and important: God is in every human experience.

Today’s readings provide the experience of Elijah and the experience of the disciples, and especially Peter, to reflect upon.

Like Elijah, we may come to expect God to speak in exceptional ways: as in the strong heavy wind, or earthquake or fire. But God spoke in the tiny whispering sound. Very often, God comes in unexpected ways and at unexpected times.

I am an academic and spend my days in a world of books and learning. My theological discussions with others are stimulating and thought-provoking. I worship at a parish that celebrates Eucharist well, with good preaching.

Still, I must admit that God’s voice often is spoken by a child, in a way that I can hear. My deepest moments of prayer are not my doing – not when I set aside time to pray, nor when I pray with the Scriptures, nor listen to music, but when God “appears” where I least expect and “speaks” when I am not necessarily listening. Our God is a God of surprises! Elijah must have been surprised when hearing that tiny whispering sound.

In the Gospel of Matthew we hear today, Jesus went up on the mountain to pray. Remember, the mountain was the meeting place with God from the time that Moses climbed the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments. It would seem that Jesus at prayer was especially attuned to the prayer of the disciples on the water which was churned up. That churned up water, at night, can certainly serve as a metaphor for the churnings of our lives, when we feel “in the dark.”

Jesus walking on the water was such a surprise, totally unexpected, that the disciples’ first response was fear of a ghost. Jesus’ words: “Take courage, it is I. Do not be afraid,” are words that we can take to heart, words that bring us comfort. We are not alone, not ever alone, especially when we feel at peril. God’s presence with us is God’s greatest power.

We’re so familiar with the story of Peter, called by Jesus to come to him on the water. With great faith, Peter began the walk, but fear caused him to sink. Immediately, Jesus stretches out his hand to catch Peter. Such is our story, we who have been baptized into Jesus. We begin with great faith and great intention, but fear causes us to sink, only to be saved over and over again by our Christ.

As we hear these texts today, let us be renewed in our resolve to both listen and watch for the coming of God, the coming of Christ to our lives in unexpected and surprising ways. For God is in every one of our experiences and ever ready to save.

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