Nineteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Today's Mass Readings

This Sunday has two of my favorite readings. In the First Book of Kings, Elijah hears the voice of the Lord as a whisper, and in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus allows Peter to come to him on the waters.

First, let’s start with Elijah when he was waiting to see the Lord. The Lord allowed Elijah to experience a strong heavy wind and crushing rocks, an earthquake, a fire, and a whispering sound. You would think our Lord would prove himself not only to Elijah, but to us, that he would be in a strong wind, an earthquake, and a fire. But no, our God is a simple God who desires mercy, simplicity, and love, he proves himself in a whisper, the most humble way imaginable. Elijah recognizes this and hides his face. Then in Matthew’s Gospel, when the wind was driving against the boat the disciples see Jesus, they thought they were seeing a ghost. But when Jesus’s comforting voice said, “‘Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid,’ Peter said to him in reply, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ He said, ‘Come.’” But Peter after taking a few steps starts to drown because of his lack of faith.

I know in my life, there are times that I, sadly to say, tempt the Lord and ask for a sign, something that is clear and can prove that everything will be ok. But, sadly my own pride gets in the way, and whatever I think is best falters. Yet, the Lord accomplishes whatever needs to be done in his own way. The Lord whispers to us “come,” but we have to have faith! If St. Peter had faith the size of a mustard seed, he could have run across that water and given the Lord a big hug. When the storms of anxiety come, do we ask the Lord to help us? Do we hear his voice in a whisper that says, “do not be afraid, come to me for I am with you! I love you!” Or do we ask the Lord to do something about a particular situation and wait for something big and almighty to happen?

This week I challenge you, once again to reflect on the ways that the Lord might be calling you humbly in a whisper. Is he saying to you, “trust in me” or is he saying “come follow me, I love you, and I won’t let anything happen to you?”

Reflection by Br. Maximilian Burkhart, OSB