Daily Readings - Sun Aug 09 2020

⁹And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?¹¹And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:¹²And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.¹³And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?

Romans

Chapter 9

¹I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,²That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.³For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:⁴Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;⁵Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

Matthew

Chapter 14

²²And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.²³And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.²⁴But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.²⁵And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.²⁶And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.²⁷But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.²⁸And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.²⁹And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.³⁰But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.³¹And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?³²And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.³³Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art 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.