Volume 19, Issue 13-14

“We know God to be silent – yet, we hear Him.” 

Reflection on the 1st reading (1 Kings 19:9, 11-3)

The northern tribes of the Jews, known collectively as ‘Israel’, had invaded Canaan. It was about 1250 BC. They were led by Joshua. Over a long period of time, these Jews weakened in loyalty to the God who had led them through the desert to this Promised Land. They intermarried with local ‘unbelievers’ and even attended pagan worship of local gods, or ‘baals’, at many spots reserved as pagan sacred sites.

Surrounded by such collective apostasy (defection), Elijah suffered discouragement, an occupational hazard for prophets. He decided to confront, on Mount Carmel, some pagan priests. He wanted to show his people how ill advised was attachment to any other ‘god’, except the God Who met Moses on Mount Sinai.

Worn out with all the strife, Elijah decided to consult God on that same Mount Sinai, just as Moses had done centuries before. Elijah was glad he didn’t find God in a storm, earthquake or fire as had Moses. It would have confused him. Had he not preached against worship of the natural phenomena held in such high regard by those pagans?

But, meet God he did – in a veiled presence within a gentle breeze!

So with us modern believers. Living as we do in a secular world, anxious in the face of rapid change, we know God to be silent – yet, we hear Him. Like Elijah, we cover our faces and emerge from out most sacred place, the Eucharistic celebration, to tackle our prophetic mission.

Gospel reflection (Matthew 14:22-33)

Jesus made his disciples get into a boat because, again, He was confronted by people who wanted Him to lead a political revolution against a Roman occupying force and a corrupt local government. Even some of his disciples were keen on this option. It was, after all, perfectly natural for them to think this way. They were Jewish. The hope of a military Messiah had dominated the national mind for hundreds of years.

This misconception dogged Jesus’ steps all the way to Calvary. (A variation of it tempts His Church regularly down the ages.) And so, at this decisive turning point in Jesus’ life, we have a dramatic redefinition of His real mission. The role of itinerant rabbi, idol of the crowds, no longer corresponded to the Father’s plan of salvation. Jesus, indeed, is a crisis in the life of God Himself.

Consequently, Our Lord gave Himself exclusively to the task of intensive training of the Apostles, Peter in particular, whose Successor has just visited Australia. He would reveal only to them His messianic power. This would strengthen their confidence in Him. Walking on the water was directed to this goal. He convinced Peter that He did have messianic powers to conquer Evil (symbolised by the water on which Peter trod). And, He made Peter realise that it wasn’t magic, but faith and trust. Church leaders at all levels are called to the same degree of fidelity and confidence, as well as transparency and accountability towards secular society.