IF THE WATERS GET STORMY, WALK ON THEM!

NINETEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME. YEAR A.
August 10, 2008.
(First reading: 1 Kings 19:9, 11-13) (Psalm 85:9-14)
(Second reading: Romans 9:1-5) (Gospel reading: Matthew 14:22-33)


IF THE WATERS GET STORMY,
WALK ON THEM!

When "the boat... was being tossed by the waves, for the wind was against it... he came toward them, walking on the sea" (Matthew 14:24-25) to the help of those who needed him.

How does the Lord help those who need him?
He comes toward them, not only to rescue them but also to give them his power. Yes, The Lord gives his power to all who ask him for it. Peter asked: "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water" and the Lord answered: "Come". And, at once, "Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus" (Matthew 14:28-29).

Is the world willing to accept the help and power of God?
No! In fact, our world refuses to see him, to see his goodness, his liberation, his truth, his peace, his justice.

Instead, the world sees God as "a ghost", just as the disciples on the sinking boat cried out: "It is a ghost" (Matthew 14:26). The world of injustice and abuse becomes "terrified when it sees God coming toward it" because the world is threatened by the true savior.

God is a gentle God not a "scary ghost "
The First Book of Kings points out that God is not a "brute god":
- The Lord is not in "a strong and heavy wind... rending the mountains and crushing rocks" (1 Kings 19:11). No, the Lord is not in the power of oppressive laws or doctrines which favor a specific socioeconomic class, while "rending and crushing" the vast majorities of human beings.

- The Lord is not in the powerful "earthquake" (1 Kings 19:11). No, the Lord is not in the devastating earthquake caused by economic policies which tear down to pieces the peoples' rights to meaningful work, to decent housing, to health care, to education, to the protection of their families.

- The Lord is not in the scorching "fire" (1 Kings 19:12). No, the Lord is not in the scorching fire unleashed by weapons of mass destruction from cluster bombs to nuclear bombs, from night vision goggles to metal piercing bullets.

The true God, however, is, as the First Book of King says, in the gentle breeze, in the "tiny whispering sound" (1 Kings 19:12) or as Psalm 85 reveals: "in the voice that speaks of peace", where "Love and truth will meet, [where] justice and peace will kiss".

The Lord is coming toward our sinking boat, even through stormy seas, to rescue our sinking humanity, to give us the power of his justice, truth and peace.

Just as the Lord gave Peter the power to walk on the waters, the same Lord will give us his power to defeat injustice, oppression and death. We must "not be afraid" (Matthew 14:27) to engage in this task, for if we are, we will sink as Peter did.

As we confront the stormy waters, let us receive God's power and walk on them.