Welcome Back to Banquet of the Word!
Join us every week for background on this Sunday readings.
Our mission is simple:
We want to help everyone in “pew-land” get more out of mass.
Because it’s fun to feel smart about scripture.
1 KGS 19:9A, 11-13A
(The 1st Reading is Old Testament. It always links to the Gospel.)
This week’s reading is back in the first book of Kings, (where we were 2 weeks ago). Today Elijah, perhaps the most key prophet in the Old Testament, is our main character.
Elijah has been fleeing the wrath of Jezebel. She was the wife of a really, really bad king (Ahab) who encouraged the worship of idols and the killing of prophets. Elijah was told to travel 40 days to the mountain of God (of note is that Moses also spent 40 days and nights atop this mountain with God).
God tells Elijah to come out of the cave and see the Lord passing by. We find out that the Lord was not in the heavy wind, nor the earthquake, nor the raging fire. God was in the tiny whispering sound. How Elijah knew where God was, we do not know. But when Elijah hears God’s whisper, he wraps his cloak about his face and recognizes God’s mysterious presence.
Do we listen for God in the small quiet spaces of life?
More importantly, do we recognize Him there?
God speaks in the silence.
At the mountain of God, Horeb,
Elijah came to a cave where he took shelter.
Then the LORD said to him,
“Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD;
the LORD will be passing by.”A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains
and crushing rocks before the LORD—
but the LORD was not in the wind.
After the wind there was an earthquake—
but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
After the earthquake there was fire—
but the LORD was not in the fire.After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound.
When he heard this,
Elijah hid his face in his cloak
and went and stood at the entrance of the cave.
Responsorial Psalm 85:
Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.
(The Psalm is a “response” to what we heard in the 1st Reading)
This psalm was written after the Jews had returned from exile and had been rebuilding the temple and the people of God. They beg to see His kindness and be granted His salvation:
I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD — for he proclaims peace.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.
ROM 9:1-5
(The 2nd reading is usually from Paul’s letters and speaks to how the early church was built after Christ’s death and resurrection).
Here, Paul is responding to the Jews’ rejection of Christ. This is why he is in “great sorrow and anguish” and continues to speak the truth.
Throughout chapters 9-11 in Romans (we’re at the start of chapter 9), Paul feels rejected because the Jews rejected Christ. He is hurt. Yet Paul does not hold back from the truth that Christ has come for all – even those who have hurt and rejected Christ.
We also see Paul move from sorrow and anguish at the beginning of the reading to praise by the end, “God blessed forever. Amen.”
As Christians we will suffer. We will see Christ rejected on a daily basis. How can we also continue to speak the truth as Paul did? To be vulnerable when others hurt us and speak the truth, and further – love them still?
Brothers and sisters:
I speak the truth in Christ, I do not lie;
my conscience joins with the Holy Spirit in bearing me witness
that I have great sorrow and constant anguish in my heart.
For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ
for the sake of my own people,
my kindred according to the flesh.They are Israelites;
theirs the adoption, the glory, the covenants,
the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises;
theirs the patriarchs, and from them,
according to the flesh, is the Christ,
who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.
MT 14:22-33
(The Gospel is the highest point of the Liturgy of the Word. That’s why we stand.
We are about to hear from and be instructed by Christ Himself.)
Oh what a beautiful reading today!
First, we see Jesus go away from the crowds and up to a mountain to pray. Similar to Elijah fleeing Jezebel alone, then heading to a mountain to pray. He finds God in a small whisper.
We can see here that Jesus sought silence so He could speak to His Father. He needed quiet too! Now let’s get to the analogy at work in this reading. It is worth contemplation and for you journalers out there – some journaling:
After he had fed the people, Jesus made the disciples get into a boat
and precede him to the other side,
while he dismissed the crowds.
After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.
When it was evening he was there alone.
Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore,
was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it.
During the fourth watch of the night,
he came toward them walking on the sea.When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified.
“It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear.
At once Jesus spoke to them, “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.”
Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened;
and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter,
and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
After they got into the boat, the wind died down.
Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying,
“Truly, you are the Son of God.”
First, we see a boat that was being tossed in the waves. That’s you and me when times are hard. We’ve lost a loved one. Or a job. Or our house. A relationship has gone bad. A child is sick. We are depressed. Our marriages are in a stormy season.
Then Jesus tells Peter to come out of that boat – in the stormy sea – and walk to Him on the water. (What?! Walking on the sea??)
This is where we must know that something greater than us is always at work amidst our storms. The question is – do we see Jesus’s hand outstretched when we are on the water of our storms…or do we start to sink? I know for me, I often start to sink.
Jesus tells them, “Do not be afraid.” Do you know how many times this phrase is used in scripture?
365.
Yep, three hundred and sixty-five times – the same as the number of days in a year. What a powerful message. We are commanded to Be Not Afraid! Just think what might happen in our lives at home, at work, in school in the world if we took Jesus at His word.
Peter sees Jesus but becomes frightened. He doubts and begins to sink. When we doubt God, we too will sink.
Peter cries, “Lord, Save me!”
What does Jesus do now?
Does he watch Peter sink just a little lower to “teach him a lesson.” Does he wait for Peter to realize his wrong? Does he wait until Peter’s chin is submerged but not his nose or eyes? No.
The scripture tells us that Jesus stretched his hand out IMMEDIATELY. Then, once he is safe, he corrects him. This is a lesson for us when someone else wrongs us. Our spouses. Our children. Our family members or friends. Stretch out your hand RIGHT THEN. And later, have the conversation.
Where do we doubt in our faith lives?
Where do we doubt with those we love? We cannot go forward this week without God’s outstretched hand. We can grab hold of His and instead of sinking, STAND. And we can believe!
Believe what you read. Believe what you hear in the scriptures. Believe because it is true. God has chosen us as his own. His hand is outstretched for us right now – immediately.
Our only move needs to be – to grab it. To hold on tight. And not let go.
Banquet of the Word 