Theme: THE LORD WILL CALM THE STORMS IN OUR LIVES AND GIVE US PEACE / SHALOM
- 1 Kings 19:9. 11-13;
- Psalm 84 (85):9-14. R/ v. 8;
- Romans 9:1-5
- Matthew 14:22-33
Today is the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Liturgical Year A. The readings today tell us that the Lord will calm the storms in our lives and give us peace!
The gospel today tells us that the disciples were in a boat in a stormy sea, but more importantly, the gospel tells us that Jesus walked on the water/lake towards them. And at the telling of Jesus, Peter also walked on the water towards Jesus, but because of the strong wind, Peter took fright and began to sink, but Jesus saved him, and chided him for his “little faith” and “doubt”. And as they entered the boat the wind dropped and there was calm and peace and the disciples worshipped him as “the Son of God”!
Again, the gospel today tells us that the Lord will calm the storms in our lives and give us peace. The storms in our lives may be natural, physical, ecclesial (church), personal, spiritual, emotional, social, political, environmental, economical, etc. The peace that the Lord gives us is “shalom”, that is, an all-embracing peace, a political, social, personal, spiritual, physical, ecclesial, etc. peace!
But we must pray and we must pray with faith, even with the “little faith” that we have! We must also ask God to increase our faith: ‘Lord I believe, increase my faith’!
The first reading follows the theme of the gospel. The first reading tells us that when the Lord appeared to Elijah, there was “the sound of a gentle breeze”, that is, there was calm and peace!
The first reading tells us that there was a strong wind, but the Lord was not in the strong wind; there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; then there was “the sound of a gentle breeze”. The Lord was in “the sound of the gentle breeze”! The Lord was in the calm and peace! Again, the Lord will calm the storms of our lives and give us peace!
The responsorial psalm follows the theme of the first reading. It is a reflection on the first reading. It is a prayer for peace, for messianic peace. (NJB) The word peace is present three times in all the three stanzas. Thus we read in stanzas one, two and three:
“I will hear what the Lord God has to say, a voice that speaks of peace.” (v. 9; SM)
“Mercy and faithfulness have met; justice and peace have embraced.” (v. 11; SM)
“Justice shall march before him and peace shall follow his steps.” (v. 14; SM)
Again, the word peace means “shalom”, that is, wholeness, completeness, soundness, well-being, fullness, perfection, lacking nothing, health, prosperity, happiness, love, salvation, etc.! Thus the response of the responsorial psalm:
“Show us, Lord, your love; grant us your salvation.” (v. 8; CSB)
The second reading does not follow the theme of the Sunday, but the second reading has something important to tell us. The second reading tells us that St. Paul was sorrowful and in anguish because the Jews who were his own flesh and blood did not believe in Jesus Christ! The Jews were the chosen people of God, the Law of God was given to them, and Jesus Christ the Messiah came from them, but they did not believe in Jesus Christ!
The second reading is taken from the letter to the Romans chapter 9, but we have to read the whole section right up to chapter 11 inclusive to understand that St. Paul did not lose faith and hope in the love of God for Israel. St. Paul believed that in the end even Israel will be converted and will believe in Jesus Christ and will be saved!
Today in the Eucharist, we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and we eat his body and drink his blood, and the Risen Lord will give us the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will help us to pray to God in faith and the Lord will calm the storms in our lives. The Holy Spirit will also help us proclaim the good news so that all may believe and be saved, including the Jews! A happy Sunday and a happy week to all of you! Amen!
Words of Spirit and Life 
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