Sunday August 10, 2014

 

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 

Lectionary: 115 (NAB Readings)(Jerusalem Bible)

 

Reading 1
1 Kings 19:9A, 11-13A

This reading from the book of Kings is one of my favorite stories to quote in the old testament. We start off with Elijah in a cave, and he’s there because he’s been trying to to hide from the vengeful Queen Jezebel. In a hope to speak to God in a special way, Elijah goes to Mount Horeb in hopes of receiving a special communication similar to how the Lord spoke to Moses in that very same spot. In his mind, Elijah was hoping for some grad experience of the power of God, but things don’t go as planned.

Many times in our lives, we expect God to scream and show us a large arrow in the direction of where He wants us to go, but God almost never speaks to us in that way. God’s voice comes through a still, small voice, and it can be easy to miss. It requires an attentive heart to hear through the noise of this world.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalms 85:9, 10, 11-12, 13-14

R/ (8) Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.

 

Reading 2
Romans 9:1-5

We continue in our study in the same letter. This second reading from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans is an approach to show the difference in the people of God since the Incarnation of Christ. The Jews were most certainly God’s chosen people, and as a former Jew, St. Paul knew that God had chosen them. Now, he carefully begins to explain that the Hebrews put their chosen status in danger by choosing not to follow Jesus. Christ is Lord over all, and it requires that we are willing to follow Him.

Gospel
Matthew 14:22-33

This week’s Gospel reading from St. Matthew is full of incredibly rich and beautiful imagery. Once Jesus packs the Apostles into the boat, He takes time to retreat up the mountain on His own. Later that night, He encounters them in the midst of a dangerous storm, and he famously walks out to them on the water. This understandably terrifies the Apostles, but there is incredible symbolism in Christ’s willingness to meet us where we are, even if it’s in the middle of a storm. In his faith, St. Peter is able to meet Jesus on the water, and he is able to walk on water but only when he trusts in Him. Hillsong released one of my favorite songs last year about this very situation, and it puts the message of this story into words better than I could. I encourage you to list to it.

“Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders

Let me walk upon the waters

Wherever You would call me

Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander

And my faith will be made stronger

In the presence of my Savior”

 

Gospel Mediation from Bishop Vasquez

• “He went up on the mountain by himself to pray,” this line is easily missed in today’s Gospel about walking on water. Jesus spent a lot of time alone in prayer; especially, before he did something significant. Do you spend time in prayer before making major decisions?

 

Have a blessed week.

 

Theme song

Ignite – Soundwave soundwave.cc 

 

Background Music This Week