Daily Readings - Sun Aug 13 2023

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 powerful moments of encounter with God, each inviting us to reflect on how we listen, trust, and respond to His presence in our lives. In the first reading, Elijah, fleeing from the turmoil of his mission, finds himself on Mount Horeb. The Lord is not in the dramatic wind, earthquake, or fire, but in the gentle whisper that follows. This reminds us that God often speaks in the stillness, inviting us to quiet our hearts and listen deeply. Elijah’s experience teaches us that true discernment requires patience and openness to God’s subtle presence. The Gospel offers a complementary lesson through Peter’s encounter with Jesus on the water. Jesus, walking calmly amidst the storm, invites Peter to step out of the boat in faith. Peter’s initial courage quickly gives way to doubt as he focuses on the turbulent waves rather than the Lord. Yet, even in his faltering, Jesus reaches out, saving him and reminding him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” This moment speaks to us about the importance of trusting in God’s presence, even when the world around us seems chaotic. Like Peter, we are called to keep our eyes fixed on Christ, even when the winds of doubt and fear assail us. Both Elijah and Peter’s stories find a bridge in Paul’s heartfelt words in the second reading. Paul’s deep sorrow for his kinsmen who have not yet come to faith in Christ reflects a love that mirrors God’s own desire for all people to be saved. His willingness to endure hardship for the sake of others reminds us that our faith is not just about personal relationship with God but also about sharing His love with others. Like Paul, we are called to intercede for those who have not yet encountered Christ, trusting that God’s whisper can reach even the hardest of hearts. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Where are the “storms” in our lives? Are we like Elijah, seeking God in the noise, or are we willing to listen for the gentle whisper? Are we like Peter, stepping out in faith but faltering when the waves crash? Or are we like Paul, willing to bear the burdens of others in love? May we learn to trust in God’s presence, even in the midst of turmoil, and may we share His love with a world in need of His gentle whisper.