Homily- Nineteenth Sunday of Year A, Fr. Udoekpo, M.
God’s Truth Endures Forever (B)
v 1 Kgs 19:9a,
11-13a
v Ps 85:9-14
v Rom 9:1-5
v Matt 14:22-33
Today’s
readings remind us that the promise God made to us endures forever. In the
midst of all the waves of suffering—exiles, wilderness wanderings, colonialism,
in our own case today, this wave of covid-19—God promised to protect and save
the Israelites, including his prophets, the poor, and the faithful endures. He promised
kindness, truth, peace, justice, faith, and hope. This is true in his divine
provision for Elijah, his Son Jesus Christ, the disciples, the church, and each
of us. The truth is that God has a purpose for us: to save us.
In
today’s first reading (1 Kgs 19:9a, 11-13a), Elijah fled Ahab and Jezebel’s
threat and persecution, having been accused of defeating and killing Baal’s
prophets (1 Kgs 18:1–19:8). Yet in his suffering, loneliness, and hopelessness,
Elijah was not alone. He was with the God of truth and hope for salvation.
This
truth providentially led Elijah to Mount Horeb, where Moses had once
encountered God (Exod 3:24-33). Elijah remained in his cave only to be directed
by the Lord to “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord” (1 Kgs 19:11). Elijah obeyed in
the expectation that he would encounter God’s presence in fire, wind, or a
spectacular earthquake—all of which had occurred during the events at Mount
Sinai in Exodus 19:18. Instead, God manifested himself to Elijah on this
mountain in a very gentle and whispering breeze.
What
is this gentle, whispering breeze all about? Is it a new order—an order of
peace and God’s truth? It foreshadows a new form of peaceful political
leadership, unlike the violent leadership of Ahab and Jezebel. It demonstrates
God’s kindness and justice. Echoes of these promises are also heard in Psalm
85. This community lament declares, “Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace
to his people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.
Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him that his glory may dwell
in our land. Steadfast love (chesed) and faithfulness (emunah)
will meet; righteousness (dikiaosune) and peace (shalom) will
kiss each other. Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness
will look down from the sky” (Ps 85:8-11).
Echoes
of these promises are also heard in the ministry of Christ, who loved and fed
the multitude in last Sunday’s Gospel (Matt 14:13-21). Today, again, he gently
dismisses the multitude and, having sent his disciples in a boat to other side
of the sea, spends time in prayer on a nearby mountain. Then, he walks on the
sea. Christ also calms his disciples’ fear as their boat was tossed on the waves
(Matt 14:22-33). As God his father commanded the troubled Prophet Elijah to
stand outside for his gentle presence, Jesus called his frightened disciples to
have courage and commanded the faithless Peter to walk on the sea. Jesus also
stretched out his hands to help Peter when he began to sink.
From
baptism, life is like a journey on a boat. We experience waves of suffering,
anguish, fear, and frustration and start to believe we are sinking in the sea
of life. These waves could take the form of an illness like corona-virus. They
could take the form of the temptation to sin, to be uncharitable to one
another, to abandon the Christian faith, to pursue violence and values outside
of Christianity. Sometimes we may feel that the waves are too much and the God of
our ancestors has abandoned us. Paul certainly would have felt this same
frustration and anguish during his missionary journeys, as expressed in today’s
second reading (Rom 9:1-15). But he knew how to bounce back in faith and hope.
In all
the waves we face today—including the ongoing political crises around the globe,
especially of this pandemic—it is important that we step back, take a deep
breath, and reexamine the truth of God’s abiding, gentle, historic, and
constant presence in our midst. It is important to hold onto faith that God has
a peaceful purpose for us: to love us and to save us. His gentle plan and truth
endures forever!
Reflection
Questions:
1.
What prevents you from trusting in the God of Elijah for your provision?
2.
What prevents you from recognizing God’s gentle plan in your life?
3.
What prevents you from recognizing God’s constant presence?
4. How
do you relate to today’s Scripture readings?
5.
What prevents you from trusting that God can walk on the sea of your life?
