08-Aug-2017 Dear Friend, Often we want God to act dramatically and sensationally in our lives and in the lives of others! In reality our God acts in small and unobtrusive ways often unnoticed and unheeded by us. Our all-powerful God is a God of small things! He does not display his power yet works in wonderful ways for us and with us. Have an exciting week discovering his quiet action and presence in our lives! -Fr. Jude Sunday Ref: XIX Sunday “Courage! It is I, the Lord! Do not be afraid!” 13-Aug-2017Readings: 1 Kings 19: 9, 11-13; Rom.9: 1-5; Matt. 14: 22-33; In the first reading we meet Elijah the prophet hiding in a cave as he tries to distance himself from Queen Jezabel who is out to get him because he has humiliated and killed her prophets. Now on the run for his life, he is directed to Mount Horeb where he takes refuge in a cave. He wants to meet God and wishes this God to act powerfully against his enemies. There he discovers that his tactics are not God’s tactics. God’s approach is a non-violent one, symbolized by the mighty wind and earthquake in which he does not find God. Rather it is a gentle one, symbolized by the gentle breeze. Our God is so different from what we expect!
Deep calls to DeepA storm arose at sea and the ship was being tossed by winds and waves. Panic-stricken, the passengers ran helter-skelter on the deck begging God to save them. Amidst the confusion, little Monica stared coolly at the tempestuous sea. Seeing the girl so cool and composed, a passenger barked, “Hey kid, aren’t you afraid?” Monica replied casually, “Why worry? My daddy’s the captain!” Today’s readings speak of winds and waves, and of Christ, our Captain’s assurance. “Courage! It is I!”Francis Gonsalves in ‘Sunday Seeds for Daily Deeds’ In today’s gospel, we read that Jesus sent his disciples in a boat and he went on the mountain and was praying until three in the morning. Later, Jesus walked over the water and found His disciples fighting a losing battle against the storm. Though He was present fear engulfed them. His presence calmed the sea and gave them freedom from fear. The lesson in this passage is abundantly clear. As Matthew relates it, the story is clearly symbolic. The disciples in the boat represent the infant church; the wind and the waves represent the persecution let loose on the Church. Jesus is not with them physically; He is in heaven praying to the Father. However in the Church’s direst need, when all seems lost, her Lord comes to save her, The incident of Peter sinking and being saved by Jesus is probably a reference to Peter’s failure during the passion, and his restoration after the resurrection. In any case Peter represents the typical disciple, caught between faith and doubt. Jesus’ rebuke, “Man of little faith! Why did you doubt?” is directed to us also, who often start out courageously only to lose heart when faced with a crisis. Jesus Comes … In silenceA proper understanding of the gospel story of Jesus walking on the sea has a lot to teach us of who Jesus is. Jesus comes to us in our trials and tribulations. He comes very calmly and quietly. He comes to us in silence. If we practice silence long enough, we may, like Elijah, sense God in the most surprising moments of our lives. Let me conclude with this story. Four monks decided to meditate silently without speaking for two weeks. By nightfall on the first day, the candle began to flicker and then went out. The first monk said, “Oh, no! The candle is out.” The second monk said, “Aren’t we not supposed to talk?” The third monk said, “Why must you break the silence?” The fourth monk laughed and said, “I’m the only one who didn’t speak.” –Mother Teresa says, “We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature – trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see how the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence…we need silence to be able to touch souls.”John Pichappilly in ‘The Table of the Word’ The impossible becomes possible…Mark Link tells the inspiring story of a 17 year-old girl named Joni Eareckson, who like all teenagers her age was full of vitality, vigour and promise. Her favourite sport was horse riding, and in every completion her performance was so very impressive that her prospects for the future kept rising both noticeably and dramatically. One hot afternoon in July, Joni went for a swim in Chesapeake Bay and there tragedy struck. On one particular dive she sustained such a severe injury to her head that she was instantly knocked unconscious and rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment. And there the worst fears of her loved ones were confirmed. Joni would be a quadriplegic for the rest of her life. The months ahead were an absolute nightmare, with just no light at the end of the tunnel. The once graceful rider, who delighted crowds with her performances, would lie strapped to a Stryker frame. And for much of her time she would lie with her face down, looking at nothing but the floor. That is when she had a spiritual experience. As Joni lay strapped in her Stryker frame, she thought of Jesus nailed to the cross. He was God yet he was totally powerless and helpless. And she adds, “I pictured Jesus standing by my Stryker frame and saying to me, “Don’t lose heart, Joni, for I am with you and will help you to achieve the impossible.” Even as she lay there a curious thought crossed Joni’s mind. She could attempt painting if she could hold a painting brush between her teeth. And that is precisely what she did- so successfully and admirably that she is author of two best-sellers –one being autobiographical and entitled Joni –and has played the lead role in a movie of her own life. This inspiring story aptly demonstrates what Jesus can do in the life of any and every individual, if we let him. As the saying goes, “Where some see a caterpillar, others see a butterfly.” As someone has rightly said, “We must let go, and let God.” This precisely is what Joni did in her absolute helplessness. But with faith in the almighty power and the never-failing help of the Lord Jesus, she was able to achieve the impossible.J. Valladares in ‘Your Words O Lord, are Spirit, and they are Life’ Launch out into the deepThe God-encounter is possible when one dives deeper, climbs higher, ventures further and ‘burns one’s boats’ to launch out into the deep. The conquistador, Hernan Cortes (1485- 1547), was an ambitious man and desired to conquer Mexico for King Charles V of Spain. Frightened by unknown lands and its many inhabitants, his sailors dreamt of turning back to their ships, whereupon Cortes ordered them to ‘burn their boats.’ Are you ready to burn your boats and launch out into the deep to meet Deep?Francis Gonsalves in ‘Sunday Seeds for Daily Deeds’ Ready to uphold you!Peter’s encounter with Jesus becomes a model of the Church’s encounter with God. Life tosses us about and makes us scream, “Help!” Rather than saving us by shortcuts, Jesus appears in life’s storms saying, “Courage, it is I!” His invitation follows: “Come!” Are we ready –as individuals and Church – to jump off the boat, leave the bandwagon and abandon the crowd? The Indian state of Gujarat suffered devastating floods in July 2005. The oldest Church in Gujarat, at Anand, was inundated like never before. This “Church in deep waters” is symbolic of the Church called to weather today’s tempests of godlessness, globalization, materialism, fundamentalism, and individualism. Indeed, Christ the Captain calls us to enter depth and encounter Deep. Isn’t that the same hand that held Peter ever ready to hold you and me?Francis Gonsalves in ‘Sunday Seeds for Daily Deeds’ May we with faith launch out knowing He will uphold us! Fr. Jude Botelho botelhoj...@gmail.com PS. The stories, incidents and anecdotes used in the reflections have been collected over the years from books as well as from sources over the net and from e-mails received. Every effort is made to acknowledge authors whenever possible. If you send in stories or illustrations I would be grateful if you could quote the source as well so that they can be acknowledged if used in these reflections.These reflections are also available on my Web site www.NetForLife.net Thank you.
