It Is I - Have No Fear
The Lord Jesus desires that we “know’ GOD. That is the reason that Jesus came among us – to reveal Who His Abba-Father is and to help us to develop an ever-deepening relationship with GOD. The problem is that we often try to make GOD fit into our understanding and make GOD into our image rather than try to form ourselves into the image of GOD as GOD intends us to be. It is important for us to take the time to “know” GOD. It requires that we reflect on GOD’s Word (both in Scripture and in the person of Jesus). As we continue the process of being aware of GOD’s loving presence with us, we must be willing to share that experience with others and invite them to follow the Lord Jesus as He reveals Himself, His Abba, and the Holy Spirit to us and to them.
Today we are reminded of GOD’s omni-presence (being everywhere). In the First Reading, Elijah is told that he will experience the presence of GOD. Three mighty forces come upon Elijah, but GOD is not revealed in them. Yet, GOD does come to Elijah in an unexpected way. Our psalm response today repeats the phrase: “LORD, let us see Your kindness, and grant us Your salvation.” In the Second Reading, St. Paul is saddened that his people, the Hebrews (the Israelites, the Jews), have not recognized the presence of GOD in their midst in the teaching and person of Jesus. In the Gospel, Jesus makes His presence known to the apostles as they are being tossed about in a boat on a stormy sea.
Commentary: This
awesome story of Elijah’s encounter with the LORD is read today to pair with Peter’s
encounter with Jesus, the Son of God, on Lake Galilee. Mount Horeb, where it occurred,
is an awesome place, a rocky mountain on Sinai. No earth, vegetation, or animals,
just stark rock, some iron-ore red, some granite-grey, some almost sulphur-green.
It was here that Moses and the People of Israel had their experience of God, too,
and the silent mountains almost speak of God. Elijah was fleeing from the threat
of persecution, a trek of forty days and forty nights. There are experiences which
cannot be put into words, whether it is the ecstasy of love or music or beauty.
No one can adequately express in words the experience of an encounter with God,
and Elijah’s is described quite differently from that of Moses, who experienced
God in thunder, lightning, and earthquake. The ‘light, murmuring sound’ is literally
‘a sound of silence’. In any case the experience strengthened him enough to return
to his mission. It is because of these encounters that Moses and Elijah are present
at the Transfiguration when the closest disciples experience the divinity of Jesus
on the holy mountain.
Our psalm response today repeats the phrase:
“LORD, let us see Your kindness, and grant us Your salvation.” The psalm seems
to imply that GOD’s presence can be felt in the peace and calm of people acting
justly and seeking the truth. GOD is not just a powerful warrior deity who
strikes people with anger and vengeance. The LORD is a GOD of peace and
justice. That is what GOD wants most for the people who are called by the
LORD’s name. It is in the practice of peace and justice where GOD’s presence
can be experienced.
Commentary: After
his exposition of Christ’s saving work Paul turns to the question which tortures
him: how is it that Israel, so long prepared, failed to recognize the fulfilment
of the prophecies. Paul was a Jew through and through and was deeply wounded by
the failure of his own people to welcome Jesus, despite all the privileges given
them which he here details. For Paul Christianity is the conclusion to which Judaism
was meant to lead. But God never revokes his gifts, and these gifts still belong
to the Jews; it can never be said that the Jews have been superseded and lost their
status as God’s chosen people. For the next two chapters Paul quotes every conceivable
scripture to show that the rebellions of the Jews against God throughout their history
made it inevitable that they would fail to recognize the Messiah. Nevertheless,
he insists, a remnant will turn to the Lord in the end. The dead branches have been
cut off to make room for the gentiles to be grafted in, and the old branches will
be grafted in again at the end. The horticultural image obviously does not work
– you can’t graft in dead branches – and finally Paul simply throws up his hands
and praises the inscrutable wisdom of God.
Commentary”: The Christian people is often depicted as a boat, with Peter
at the helm. As in a boat, everyone has their part to play: kids to bring the excitement
and the challenge, parents to take the responsibility, grandparents just to be there
to comfort and reassure. Without Jesus they were getting exhausted, frustrated and
probably bad-tempered and quarrelling. When Jesus appears everything changes: first,
terror and awed amazement, then Peter rushes to meet him – and loses confidence,
only to be swiftly rescued. How does Jesus come to me? In the joys of family? In
the unwelcome criticism of an angry neighbour who tells me the truth about myself?
In the worries of a job or the agonies of a failed relationship? In the staggering
beauty of creation? In physical pain? All these can bring God’s presence, and without
that presence we cannot expect to cope. Jesus does not force himself upon us. He
just jogs us, and says, ‘Here I am if you want me.’ He may disappear into the sea-mist
again for a time, and we may sink into the water like mistrustful Peter. But it
all ends with a welcome and a recognition that Jesus can cope even with a life-threatening
situation
Reflection: Does the Lord Jesus seem
distant when trials or adversity come your way? It was at Jesus' initiative that
the disciples sailed across the lake, only to find themselves in a life-threatening
storm. Although they were experienced fishermen, they feared for their lives. While
Jesus was not with them in the boat, he, nonetheless watched for them in prayer.
When he perceived their trouble he came to them on the sea and startled them with
his sudden appearance. Do you look for the Lord's presence when you encounter difficulty
or challenges?
Fight fear with faith
This dramatic incident on the sea of Galilee revealed Peter's character
more fully than others. Here we see Peter's impulsiveness - his tendency to act
without thinking of what he was doing. He often failed and came to grief as a result
of his impulsiveness. In contrast, Jesus always bade his disciples to see how difficult
it was to follow him before they set out on the way he taught them. A great deal
of failure in the Christian life is due to acting on impulse and emotional fervour
without counting the cost. Peter, fortunately in the moment of his failure clutched
at Jesus and held him firmly. Every time Peter fell, he rose again. His failures
only made him love the Lord more deeply and trust him more intently.
The Lord keeps watch over us at all times, and especially in our
moments of temptation and difficulty. Do you rely on the Lord for his strength and
help? Jesus assures us that we have no need of fear if we trust in Him and in his
great love for us. When calamities or trials threaten to overwhelm you, how do you
respond? With faith and hope in God's love, care and presence with you?
Lord Jesus, help me to
trust you always and to never doubt your presence and your power to help me. In
my moments of doubt and weakness, may I cling to you as Peter did. Strengthen my
faith that I may walk straight in the path you set before me, neither veering to
the left nor to the right.
Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: Welcoming the Lord Jesus with expectant faith and humility,
by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"While human praise does not tempt the Lord, people are often
ruffled and nearly entranced by human praise and honours in the church. Peter was
afraid on the sea, terrified by the great force of the storm. Indeed, who does not
fear that voice: 'Those who say you are happy place you in error and disturb the
path of your feet' (Isaiah 3:12 Vulgate translation)? And since
the soul struggles against the desire for human praise, it is good for it to turn
to prayer and petition amid such danger, lest one who is charmed by praise be overcome
by criticism and reproach. Let Peter, about to sink in the waves, cry out and say,
'Lord, save me!' The Lord reached out his hand. He chided Peter, saying, 'O man
of little faith, why did you doubt?' - that is, why did you not, gazing straight
at the Lord as you approached, pride yourself only in him? Nevertheless, he snatched
Peter from the waves and did not allow him who was declaring his weakness and asking
the Lord for help to perish." (excerpt from SERMON 75:10)
JESUS, I TRUST IN YOU
“It is I.” —Matthew 14:27 By walking on the sea, Jesus manifested Himself to His apostles. They were captivated, even “terrified,” by the miraculous sight of a person walking on the water (Mt 14:25-26). Jesus spoke to the apostles, revealing His divine identity by saying “It is I” (Mt 14:27; see also Ex 3:14; Jn 8:58).
When St. Peter encountered Jesus showing His sovereignty
over the chaos of the sea, he said to Jesus, “Lord, if it is really You, tell me
to come to You” (Mt 14:28). Jesus then responded: “Come!” (Mt 14:29)
Simon Peter spoke words that Jesus would surely
like to hear coming from our own lips. Have you ever felt that the Lord was calling
you in a certain direction, but you weren’t sure if it was truly Him? Jesus would
surely like us to respond as Simon Peter, “Lord, if this is truly Your leading,
tell me clearly.” Jesus answers, “Come to Me” (Mt 11:28; Mt 14:29).
The next step is ours. We may falter and begin
to sink in our troubles. Imitate Simon Peter by crying out to Jesus, “Lord, save
me!” (Mt 14:30) Jesus may seem far away, but, as you cry out
to Him, immediately His arm is there to lift you up (Mt 14:31). “Trust in Him at all times” (Ps 62:9).
Prayer: Lord Jesus, give me water-walking faith. Jesus, I trust in You. “The
Lord Himself will give His benefits; our land shall yield its increase.” —Ps 85:13. Praise the risen Jesus, Who gives
us life by His death!
The personal action for today: When have I experienced the presence of GOD in an unexpected
way? How was it unexpected? How have I been asked to step out in faith? Was I able
to keep my focus on the LORD, or was I distracted by the events around me or about
centring too much on myself? How can I help others who are being tossed about in
the storms of life to be reassured of GOD’s presence with them?