Lectionary Notes, August 7th

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading 1: 1 Kgs 19:9a, 11-13a

The events of this passage take place after Elijah has defeated the Prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:22-40). As a result of this humiliating defeat, Princess Jezebel has sworn to kill him (1 Kings 19:1-2). Elijah flees into the desert where, dejected and overcome by fear, he tells God that he may as well let him die (1 Kings 19:3-4). He then goes to sleep, but is awoken twice in the night by an angel who gives him bread and water. Strengthened by this food, he travels for 40 days to Mt. Horeb (1 Kings 19:5-8), also known as Mt. Sinai, the mountain where God revealed the Law to Moses.

Whereas Moses interceded for the Israelites (Exodus 32:11-13), Elijah appears to have reached the end of his tether (1 Kings 19:10). Elijah complains about his lack of success, saying that the people have abandoned God and he effectively condemn them. In saying this, there is the subtle implication that God’s promises have failed…

Then in the passage assigned for this Sunday, God reveals Himself to Elijah, indicating his patience, mercy and gentleness with His people. In the text that follows afterwards, God gives Elijah instructions as to what to do next.

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.

Suggested Questions:

• What is this “mountain of God” mentioned? Does it have another name? What other events have also taken place there? Why does Elijah go there?
• What do you think is the significance of the “wind…earthquake…fire”? Why was the Lord not “in” them?
• What do you think is the significance of the “tiny whispering sound”?
• Why does Elijah hide his face?

Commentary:

“…the LORD will be passing by…”

…much like Jesus will do in this week’s Gospel…

“wind…earthquake…fire”

Moses met God on the same mountain among similar circumstances (Exodus 19:17-19). The fact that God is not “in the wind/earthquake/fire” appears to suggest that, despite Elijah’s complaints about the Children of Israel, God will not unleash His wrath upon them. Instead, he reveals himself in the “tiny whispering sound” indicating patience and mercy.

“Elijah hid his face in his cloak …”

God had told Moses that nobody could see His face and live, so God sheltered Moses in the hollow of a rock (Exodus 33:18-23). Likewise, here, Elijah is sheltered in the cave.

Responsorial Psalm 85:9, 10, 11-12, 13-14

This psalm is a prayer for the renewal of God’s mercy upon His people. We read the latter portion of this psalm where God responds to His people’s pleas. God’s character of patience and mercy, which we saw in the First Reading, is on display here as He promises a time when there will be “kindness..truth…justice…peace…”.

R. (8) Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.

I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD — for he proclaims peace.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.

Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.

The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and prepare the way of his steps.

Suggested Questions:

• What is the main point of this psalm?
• How does it relate to the First Reading?

Commentary:

“…glory dwelling in our land…”

Elijah gets a taste of this glory in the First Reading. This psalm promises that a day will come when God’s glory will dwell in the land.

 

Reading II: Rom 9:1-5

We continue working through Paul’s letter to the Romans in this Sunday’s Second Reading. In this Sunday’s passage we hear how Paul laments over the Israelites and their rejection (in general) of Jesus as the Messiah. Here he lists all of the benefits given to them by God which should have made it easier for them to recognise the Messiah when He came.

This passage is a challenge to every Christian to recognise all the benefits that God has given to enable us to become mature and discerning.  As we hear in Luke’s Gospel, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded…”

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, God blessed forever. Amen.

Suggested Questions:

• What is Paul’s “mood” in this reading?
• Paul calls upon “witness[es]” that he is speaking the truth. What are they? How should this apply to Christians today?
• Why does he say he has “constant anguish in [his] heart”?
• Who are his “kindred” of whom he speaks?
• What benefits did the Jews have? What should have been the consequence of having these blessings?
• In what way are there parallels between Paul’s description of the graces given to the Jews and the graces bestowed upon Catholics today? What is the lesson from this?

Commentary:

“I do not lie”

Paul appears to wish to defend himself against any accusation of indifference towards the Children of Israel (as one would imagine he sometimes would be given his success with the Gentiles)

“…my conscience joins with the Holy Spirit…”

Conscience obviously needs to be enlightened by the Holy Spirit if it is to be a reliable guide.

“…I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ”

 The word used here is “anathema”, meaning cut off and handed over to God’s wrath. Paul says he would wish his own destruction if it meant that all his people could be saved. This desire for self-sacrifice reminds us of Christ’s sacrifice and is reminiscent of Moses’ intercession for Israel (Exodus 32:32). It stands, however, in contrast to Elijah’s condemnation.

“They are Israelites…”

These are the descendants of Jacob.

“…theirs the adoption…”

…as God’s son (Exodus 4:22-23; Jeremiah 31:9; Hosea 11:1).

“…the glory…”

…which God unveiled to His people (Exodus 16:10)

“…the covenants…”

…to Abraham, Moses, David etc. All of these items in this list are blessings that come from Israel’s covenant with God.

“…the giving of the law…”

…on Sinai to Moses

“…the worship…”

…both in the desert and in the Temple, rightly prescribed by God.

“…and the promises;”

This may mean the covenant promises or the promise of the Messiah.

“…theirs the patriarchs”

The fathers in faith: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and his sons.

“…and from them, according to the flesh, is the Christ”

…because Jesus was a Jew, from the line of David.

“…the Christ, who is over all, God blessed forever”

A statement of Jesus’ divinity.

 

Gospel: Mt 14:22-33

We continue on from last week’s “Feeding of the Multitude” to an event recounted in three of the four Gospel accounts – Jesus walking on water. In this event we see Jesus’ divinity on display as he presents Himself to His disciples in the frightening circumstances of wind and waves, demonstrating His dominion over nature and identifying Himself in the same terms in which God revealed Himself to Moses (“I Am”). From this, His disciples recognise Him as “the Son of God”.

St. Peter is my Confirmation Saint and so I have often felt a real affinity with him, but I think this is one of those passages to which most people can relate. Although Jesus’ walking on water is found in three Gospels, Peter joins Him on the water only in Matthew. Peter steps out in faith, yet when he takes his eyes of Jesus and becomes afraid he starts to sink beneath the waves. So often it is with us also when we take our eyes off the Lord. Yet Peter has the good sense to cry out to Jesus who, being the Good Shepherd, rescues him and takes them all safely to dry land.

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, he 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.”

Suggested Questions:

• Why do you think Jesus wanted to pray alone?
• What do you think might be the spiritual significance of the “fourth watch” and the violent sea?
• What do you think went through the Apostles’ mind as they saw Jesus coming towards them?
• Why do you think Peter went out of the boat? What does this say about him?
• Do you relate to Peter stepping out in faith? Do you think you would have stepped out of the boat or not?
• Why did Peter start to sink? What is the spiritual lesson for us here? How does this relate to the First Reading?
• What did Jesus do when Peter called out? What is the spiritual lesson for us here? Can you relate this to your own life?
• What did the disciples conclude from this event?
• What are we to conclude from this passage regarding how to respond to problems and difficulties?

Commentary:

“During the fourth watch of the night…”

The “watches” (under the Roman system) were divided into four three-hour periods between 6pm and 6am. The “fourth watch” is therefore between 3am and 6am, the darkest part of the night. It is at this point Jesus arrives.

“…walking on the sea…”

The “Glossa Ordinaria” says that mystically this points to Jedus’ sinlessness since he is free from the weight of sin.

“It is a ghost”

A common Jewish superstition was that a ghost appearing at night signaled calamity. Perhaps they thought he was a water spirit?

“…it is I…”

This appears to have a two-fold meaning. The first obvious meaning is that Jesus is identifying that it’s Him and that they shouldn’t be afraid. However, it also points to a divine claim: I AM. This is how God revealed Himself to Moses (Exodus 14:3) and in the Greek translation of the Old Testament (the Septuagint), the same Greek phrase is found: “ego eimi”.

“Peter said to him in reply, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water'”

Peter, as bold as always. I love this guy 🙂

“Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus…”

Initially, Peter is able to walk on water at Jesus’ invitation.

“…but when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened…”

When Peter took his eyes off Jesus and started to look at the precarious position he was in, he starts to lose faith and becomes frightened

“Therefore…let us throw off everything that hinders…fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” – Hebrews 12:2

Peter’s reaction here seems somewhat similar to Elijah’s in the First Reading.

“Lord, save me!”

The redeeming quality of Peter here is that he cries out for help. He might not have enough faith to continue to walk on water, but he at least has faith that Jesus will save him. “Lord I believe! Help me overcome my unbelief!” – Mark 9:24

“O you of little faith, why did you doubt”

Jesus identifies lack of faith as the problem.

“After they got into the boat, the wind died down”

As with Elijah, after tumult, there is peace.

The disciples had already seen Jesus’ mastery over nature, something which is commonly associated with God in the Old Testament: “He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea…..” and “You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them…”

“Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, ‘Truly, you are the Son of God.'”

Through this demonstration of power, His disciples come to see more clearly Jesus’ divinity, setting up the later confessions by Peter (Matthew 16:16) and the Centurion (Matthew 27:54)