Do Not be Afraid, Believe in God: 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sermon by Emmanuel Suntheni OSB – Nineteenth Sunday In Ordinary Time – Year A – Sermon And Christian Act In The Word
Theme: “Do not be afraid, Believe in God! Fragility!
Point of Reflection: All the scriptural readings of today share the element of fragility and vulnerability. The fundamental aspect in the reading of today is what Jesus Christ tells Peter not to be afraid but to believe and have faith. As Christians are we fragile? Are we vulnerable? Are we not afraid? Do we have faith?
First Reading: 1 Kings 19:9, 11–13
Psalm: Psalm 85:9–1
Second Reading: Romans 9:1–5
Gospel: Matthew 14:22–33
Sermon (Reflection): Today’s liturgy shows three of the Bible’s most important individuals: Elijah, Paul and Peter in distress. Elijah was discouraged and lost. Paul found himself deeply torn between commitment to Christ and loyalty to his people. Peter, eager to be like his master, could not sustain his resolve when faced with the threatening environment. He was made painfully aware of being a man of “little faith”. Yet God did not leave his servants alone. Elijah and Peter were strengthened by the divine, sustaining gentle presence. Paul, eventually understood that God will never disown the Israelites, and that eventually they will come to see and embrace the light of the Gospel (cf. Rom 11:1-26). All three readings clearly show that human fragility is well-known to God, but this does not deter God from entrusting his work to flawed people. God is active in and through a person’s fragility and shortcomings. Knowing this, his servants can be as confident in God’s sustaining and guiding presence, and rejoice with the Psalmist who affirms that God “will speak peace to his people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts”.
Turning to the Gospel of today, we encounter Peter as the hero in the Gospel of Matthew. Among several passages unique to this Gospel and focused on Peter, today’s story is the only one which shows Peter’s fragility and “little faith”. The episode of him attempting to walk on water is reported by Matthew alone.
Initially successful in taking some courageous steps on the waves, Peter showed his fragility and vulnerability when faced with the overwhelming wind, he lost confidence and began to sink. Then, in a truly moving gesture, Jesus stretched out his hand towards the drowning disciple and brought him to the safety of the boat.
The other disciples’ response to what they witnessed was equally moving; they prostrated themselves before Jesus in a gesture of worship. Having witnessed Jesus’ saving act in response to Peter’s weakness and vulnerability, they recognised him as the divine Son of God. In this, uniquely Matthean story, we see Jesus stretching out his hand towards the disciple whose little faith was undermined by doubt and fear. Peter would fail again, most notably in Gethsemane; yet neither this nor any subsequent failure prevented Jesus from entrusting him with leadership of the young Christian community. This again shows that “little faith”, doubt, and fears do not prevent God from carrying out his purposes through a fragile human being.
Biblical heroes were neither faultless nor invulnerable. Virtually all those through whom God acted, and who carried out God’s works in history were, in some ways, flawed and fragile.
The first reading presents the prophet Elijah who demonstrated that the God of Israel is the one true God by bringing down fire on the prophets of a false god, Baal, worshipped by King Ahab and his wife Jezebel. In retaliation, Jezebel decided to kill Elijah. The prophet fled to far-away Mount Sinai, called “Horeb” in 1 Kings. There, in a state of discouragement and confusion, he made a bitter complaint to, God. expressing his discouragement and resignation: “I am full of jealous zeal for Yahweh Sabaoth, because the Israelites have abandoned your covenant, have torn down your altars and put your prophets to the sword. I am the only one left, and now they want to kill me” (1 Kgs 19:10).
In response, God came to speak with Elijah but did so in a very particular manner. False gods, which the majority of the non-Israelites worshipped at the time, were believed to be powerful beings who manifested themselves through such natural phenomena as thunderbolts, whirlwinds, fire or rock-shattering earthquakes. Yet God’s voice came to the prophet as a soft whisper from the midst of a gentle breeze. In this story, we see a tremendous contrast between the violent and overwhelming powers of nature and the softly murmuring, gentle sound of a morning breeze.
From the first reading, we learn that the true God does not need overwhelming displays of power to carry out his purposes. A gentle whisper of the true God is infinitely more effective than the roaring thunder of an idol.
God sometimes in our lives looks silent but we do not need to worship idols or small gods in the form of human beings. We need to trust and have faith in God, as our faith in God is more important than worshipping small gods in the form of politicians or superiors or people who misuse power at the expense of others.
From the first reading, we can conclude that God met the prophet with gentleness appropriate to his condition, which emphasises that human weakness is not an obstacle for God to carry out his purposes, even through fragile creatures.
The second reading of today from Chapter 9 of Paul’s letter to the Romans begins the section of this complex work devoted to the troubling issue of rejection of Jesus by the vast majority of his fellow people, the Israelites. This rejection was particularly painful for Paul because, even though he believed in Jesus and became Christian, he still strongly felt a part of the Israelite family and was firmly rooted in his ancestral tradition. Paul shows himself as man internally torn by divided loyalties; his utter commitment to Christ and the Gospel on the one hand, and loyalty to his people on the other. He must have felt a painful inner conflict that drove him to speak of his willingness to be cursed and condemned if that would only benefit his own people in some way.
Mournfully Paul recalled all the privileges that the Israelites had received from God, starting with adoption by God as his children. He affirmed that Christ came from among the very people who, in the end, disowned him. This state of mind and heart was not just a momentary and passing feeling. The apostle carried this pain and sadness within himself every day of his life and ministry. Still, he was able to carry out his mission because of Jesus’ sustaining presence. He referred to this in another letter quoting the reassuring words of Jesus he had heard, “My grace is enough for you: for power is at full stretch in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9).
Paul accepted his own weakness and fragility, and even rejoiced in them, knowing that they can be overcome with Jesus’ grace and help.
Relying on Jesus, he was able to go on with the ministry in spite of the painful struggle he carried within himself.
Christian Act in Word of God “Do not be Afraid, have faith in Christ”
The Christian act of today’s scriptural readings is simple and straightforward, do not be afraid, have courage and have faith in Jesus Christ.
God does not call perfect human beings; he calls frail men and women and perfects them. He empowers fragile men and women to accomplish great things. Like an egg, there is always the danger of falling and breaking but when we are in the hands of God, we are safe. The message of Jesus to the frightened disciples on the lake is apt for each one of us, “Courage! It’s me! Don’t be afraid.”
From the scriptures, we denote that Elijah, Peter and Paul, at some point in time on their journey of faith, came face to face with the reality of human vulnerability – a susceptibility that made them rely on God and not on themselves.
There is a soft spot in every one of us – something about each one of us that reminds us of our powerlessness and our need for a power greater than ourselves. We often look out for caves to hide in when pressure mounts and strong winds threaten to snuff out the life in us. We cry out in fear when it becomes evident that we are sinking in a quagmire of problems. However, the Lord who was present in the cave with Elijah and rescued Peter from sinking is always near to raise us up when we are down.
Thinking of a newborn baby, it is always frightened but with the presence of the mother is enough assurance to keep him/her in peace. In the same way, a deepened consciousness of the presence of God in our lives is the antidote to the fear that wages war with our hearts. As Christians, let us not be afraid but trust and believe in Christ.
Action: No matter what, I will not be afraid anymore but will trust and believe in Christ.
Prayer: Almighty God, you never disappoint, you have proven to be a faithful companion to us in our daily journey of life. Help us Lord not to be afraid but to always trust and have faith in you. In you, we place our trust and we shall not be disappointed. Increase our faith! We ask this through Christ our Lord in the power of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
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