Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today's Mass Readings

In our readings today, one word comes to mind: “simplicity.” In the first reading, we have all these big, powerful, and God-fearing elements while Elijah was waiting for the Lord to pass by. You would think our almighty Lord would do something powerful to say, “I AM here!” But no, it was just a whisper sound. Then again in the gospel, a mighty wind, waiting for the Lord to pass by like Elijah, the disciples in the boat think they see someone or something on the water. It is not a ghost but the Lord!

You have probably heard what I am about to say a billion times from other people, but the simplicity of the Lord is something great, and it keeps us focused on the Lord! I remember one time when I used to work in the infirmary, I was one of those monks who couldn’t say no or wanted monks, employees, and others to get along with one another. That itself was a struggle and a stormy time in my life. I remember I was in our dear Fr. Francis Stuart’s room, and he could tell I was having trouble, and to quote the psalmist, “the storms of destruction were passing by [Psalm 57:1].” He grabbed me by the hand and said, “You are struggling right now, aren’t you?” and I said “Yes Father, I am!” And he said to me right back without missing a beat, “You don’t need to worry; the Lord sees you and is proud of you, and you have nothing to worry about. Everything will work out!” To hear that in the simplest way, from probably one of the holiest priests whom I knew, but also who had a mind of his own, was like Christ on the water for me! There have been MANY people like that in my life. Do you have people like that in your life? How can you stay focused on Christ when the storm is raging about you? Just remember that God is with you most simply.

Reflection by Br. Maximilian Burkhart, OSB