A reflection by: MARK GATES
Reading 1, 1Kings 19:9-13, At the mountain of God, Horeb, Elijah came to a cave where he took shelter. Then the LORD said to him, “Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD; the LORD will be passing by.” **A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. **After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. **After the earthquake there was fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. **After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound. When he heard ‘this’, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance of the cave.
I, LOVE, this scripture. I use it often to portray/ explain my feeling that to me the Holy Spirit is a woman, (Proverbs 3:15 & 8:1-3). God is Almighty, Apha & Omega and Blessed Trinity and can appear to humanity and work through us however He / they want. At Pentecost the Holy Spirit is a crushing wind, earth tremors, tongues of fire, and for Elijah… a tiny voice. “A tiny whispering sound”, calls us to be still… and listen. God wants to create a mighty work in you, don’t miss it.
Romans 9:1-5, Brothers and sisters: I speak the truth in Christ, I do not lie; my conscience joins with the Holy Spirit in bearing me witness that I have great sorrow and constant anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh. They are Israelites; theirs the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; theirs the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is over all that God blessed forever. Amen.
Is Paul lamenting on behalf of his own tribal people? Now that he knows our Lord as the Christ, he agonizes over the misguided Jewish community. It sure sounds to me, as if he would give his own life, on behalf of and if only to have the Israelites recognize Jesus as the Messiah. Well, it’s never too late.
Matthew 14:22-33, After he had fed the people, Jesus made the disciples get into a boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone. Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night, Jesus came toward them walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear. At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” **Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was, he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” After they got into the boat, the wind died down.
Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God.”
Throughout this encounter with Christ, the crowds, and the Apostles I’m left with one word, TRUST! **Against this tremendous backdrop two lines manifest themselves. First, “Do not be afraid”, next is: “Truly, you are the Son of God”. **Just as with our first reading, 1Kings “Whispering sound”, so much of scripture and subsequently our lives, is too simple.
To understand scripture and it’s possible benefit to our lives we must first of all, ‘open the book’. As with any book, “If you want to know the story, you have to read the book.” I’m certainly no scholar. Sometimes I just pick one word, one phrase. Then I pray and ask God to open that Word to me. God Himself has already said that His ways are above our ways, so there is ‘no’ shame in needing help, direction & ultimately understanding. Open the book. JOY- JOY- JOY. Thank you for your consistent love, Mark “G”.
