Daily Readings - Sun Aug 13 2023

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 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.