by Fr. Tommy Lane
Elijah in our first reading was recovering from a low ebb (1 Kings 19). He overcame false prophets on Mount Carmel to show that only the God of Israel is God (1 Kings 18). Then the king’s wife, who was promoting pagan worship, issued a death threat against Elijah. Elijah left and went south, and in low spirits lay under a broom tree. A divine messenger brought him food and drink and with that sustenance he continued south to Horeb, where our first reading today begins (1 Kings 19:9). Horeb is another name for Mount Sinai. Elijah must have felt very vulnerable and isolated. He was the one true prophet in the midst of 450 false prophets. The Israelites had not been faithful to God’s covenant and now the king’s wife wanted him dead. We can imagine he went south to Mount Sinai for his personal safety but also we can imagine he was looking for an answer from God and chose Mount Sinai probably because that was where God communicated with Moses. God did not let his faithful servant Elijah down; God gave him an answer in the cave where he was sheltering. God told him to go to the entrance of the cave and God would pass by him. There was something like a storm but God was not in the wind, nor in the earthquake, nor in the fire but God was in the gentle silence. I think there is a message for us in that also: if you want to meet God, you must have silence in your life; you must make space in your life for God to speak to you. When you continue reading past our reading today, we see that God gave Elijah a mission with tasks to accomplish in Syria and Israel. Now having been strengthened by God at Mount Sinai, Elijah went north again to carry out God’s wishes.
In today’s Gospel (Matt 14:22-33), the apostles’ boat was being tossed by wind and waves as they made their way across the Sea of Galilee. As if that wasn’t enough, they then saw Jesus walking towards them on the water but didn’t know it was Jesus and they were terrified. Jesus quietened their fears: “Take courage; it is I. Do not be afraid.” (Matt 14:27) Peter began to walk towards Jesus and was rescued by Jesus when he began to sink. How did it happen that Peter walked a little bit on the water but then began to sink. There is one very telling comment in Matthew: “when [Peter] saw how strong the wind was, he became frightened.” (Matt 14:30) Instead of remaining focused on Jesus as he should, he allowed himself to be distracted by the wind and took fright. I think there is a message in that for us also: remain focused on Jesus during storms. Do not take your focus off Jesus during storms.
God spoke to Elijah when he was vulnerable and isolated, and sent him back on mission. When Peter allowed himself to be distracted by the wind and began to sink, he called out and Jesus caught him. I think these are examples for us. When we are in difficulty like Elijah or frightened like Peter and sinking, can we create silence in our lives, go to some spiritual Mount Sinai, to seek consolation or an answer from God? The Lord is waiting for us to approach him in our need. It is not just that the Lord is waiting for us to approach him but wants us to approach him in our need. Many times we read words from Jesus encouraging us to bring our needs to him:
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. (Matt 7:7-8)
Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest (Matt 11:28)
In the Old Testament also we read words from God encouraging us to bring our needs before him. In Jeremiah we read,
When you call me, and come and pray to me, I will listen to you. When you look for me, you will find me. Yes, when you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me. (Jer 29:12-14)
In Isaiah we read God complaining that he was ready to listen, but his people were rebellious and would not approach him:
I was ready to respond
to those who did not ask,
to be found by those who did not seek
me.
I said: Here I am! Here I am!
To a nation that did not
invoke my name.
I have stretched out my hands all day
to a
rebellious people,
Who walk in a way that is not good,
following their own designs;
A people who provoke me
continually to my face. (Isa 65:1-3)
If ever we are vulnerable and isolated like Elijah or have taken our focus off Jesus and are frightened as a result, Jesus is waiting for us to call out to him. Make silence in your life for God, a spiritual Mount Sinai, where you can hear the Lord speak to you in the silence like Elijah. If ever we sink, call out to Jesus to catch us and help us back in the boat. In prayer we will find an answer. God is waiting to answer.
© Fr. Tommy Lane 2023
This homily was delivered in a parish in Ireland.
More Homilies for the Nineteenth Sunday of Year A
Growing through trials like Peter
Amazing Grace that saved a wretch like me!
Trusting in Jesus when problems occur
stories about faith