Daily Readings - Sun Aug 09 2020

⁹And when he had arrived there, he stayed in a cave. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?¹¹And he said to him, "Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord." And behold, the Lord passed by. And there was a great and strong wind, tearing apart the mountains, and crushing the rocks before the Lord. But the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind, there was an earthquake. But the Lord was not in the earthquake¹²And after the earthquake, there was a fire. But the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire, there was the whisper of a gentle breeze¹³And when Elijah had heard it, he covered his face with his cloak, and going out, he stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there was a voice to him, saying: "What are you doing here, Elijah?" And he responded

Romans

Chapter 9

¹I am speaking the truth in Christ; I am not lying. My conscience offers testimony to me in the Holy Spirit²because the sadness within me is great, and there is a continuous sorrow in my heart³For I was desiring that I myself might be anathemized from Christ, for the sake of my brothers, who are my kinsmen according to the flesh⁴These are the Israelites, to whom belongs adoption as sons, and the glory and the testament, and the giving and following of the law, and the promises⁵Theirs are the fathers, and from them, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is over all things, blessed God, for all eternity. Amen

Matthew

Chapter 14

²²And Jesus promptly compelled his disciples to climb into the boat, and to precede him in crossing the sea, while he dismissed the crowds²³And having dismissed the multitude, he ascended alone onto a mountain to pray. And when evening arrived, he was alone there²⁴But in the midst of the sea, the boat was being tossed about by the waves. For the wind was against them²⁵Then, in the fourth watch of the night, he came to them, walking upon the sea²⁶And seeing him walking upon the sea, they were disturbed, saying: "It must be an apparition." And they cried out, because of fear²⁷And immediately, Jesus spoke to them, saying: "Have faith. It is I. Do not be afraid.²⁸Then Peter responded by saying, "Lord, if it is you, order me come to you over the waters.²⁹And he said, "Come." And Peter, descending from the boat, walked over the water, so as to go to Jesus³⁰Yet truly, seeing that the wind was strong, he was afraid. And as he began to sink, he cried out, saying: "Lord, save me.³¹And immediately Jesus extended his hand and took hold of him. And he said to him, "O little in faith, why did you doubt?³²And when they had ascended into the boat, the wind ceased³³Then those who were in the boat drew near and adored him, saying: "Truly, you are the Son of God.

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter three distinct yet interconnected narratives that invite us to reflect on our relationship with God. The first reading from 1 Kings describes Elijah's experience in a cave, where God's presence is not in the dramatic wind, earthquake, or fire, but in a gentle whisper. This teaches us to seek God in stillness and quiet reflection, reminding us that His presence is often found in the subtle moments of life. The second reading from Romans reveals Paul's deep sorrow for his Jewish kinsmen who have not accepted Christ. His willingness to be cut off from Christ for their sake exemplifies selfless love and concern for others' spiritual well-being. This passage encourages us to pray fervently for those who have not yet encountered God's love, demonstrating the depth of Christian compassion. In the Gospel, Matthew recounts the story of Jesus walking on water. Amidst a storm, Jesus reassures his disciples, and Peter's attempt to walk on water highlights the struggle between faith and doubt. When Peter falters, Jesus rescues him, teaching us to trust in God's presence and guidance, even in turbulent times. These readings collectively remind us to cultivate faith, trust, and love. Like Elijah, we must listen for God's whisper; like Paul, we must pray with compassion; and like Peter, we must trust in Jesus' saving grace. In our daily lives, let us seek God in stillness, pray for others with sincerity, and trust in His providence, even when faced with doubt and challenges. May we deepen our faith, knowing that God is always with us, guiding us through life's storms.