August 13
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
“Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.”
Readings
Reflection
There’s an interesting connection that is threaded through our readings today, rich for our reflection. Consider the significant anxiety and concern that is present in the hearts of Elijah, of St. Paul, and of the Apostles! Elijah is in flight for fear of his life after the heroic victory over the 450 prophets of Baal. St. Paul in his letter to the Romans comes right out and says, “I have great sorrow and constant anguish in my heart” over the rejection of Jesus and his Gospel which he is preaching, and of course the Apostles face shipwreck and probable loss of life at the result of a horrible storm in the night (and worse, Jesus is not with them).
In each of these situations there is plenty of cause for why any one of them might lose their concentration and take their eyes off the Lord to focus on their fears in front of them–an important lesson for our lives as disciples. No different from these individuals, we too are often inundated with many legitimate reasons to be consumed by fear or anxiety. Each reading today offers practical solutions for us to implement:
With Elijah: The Lord visits us in silence, the deepest whisperings from his heart to ours—this is where the Lord prefers to speak his consolation to us. With St. Paul: God, made manifest in Christ Jesus, is over all and is always faithful to his covenant, meaning we can find hope and confidence in who God is, and his power over all, which includes our weaknesses and even our trials and spaces of anxiety. With the Apostles: even while the temptation to fix our eyes on the ‘storm’ is strong, keep fixed on Jesus, even if we begin to sink, he immediately rushes to us and invites us to trust in his ability to save us.
So now it is up to us to respond and turn away from an inner attitude of fear and intimidation toward a concentrated focus on Jesus’ call to us. His ‘still small voice’ constantly beckons us to find refuge in him. If you are drowning in the midst of storms, on the run, or even familiar with the experience of knowing constant anguish of heart—I suggest you find yourself quietly before Jesus in the Eucharist to ask him to speak to the depths of your heart. His power, his silence, his fidelity will not fail you.
Peace,
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