HOMILY FOR THE 19TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME YEAR A.
THEME: 5 LESSONS TO BEAR IN MIND AS WE JOURNEY IN LIFE.
BY: REV. FR. CHIBUIKE UWAKWE
In the 1st reading (1 Kings 19:9, 11-13), Elijah was on a journey fleeing from Jezebel who threatened his life after he slaughtered the 450 prophets of Baal when he encountered God on Mount Horeb in an unusual way. In the 2nd Reading (Romans 9:1-5), St. Paul expresses his desire to accept any misfortune in this life insofar as it will help his brothers to be saved. In the Gospel reading (Matthew 14:22-33), as the disciples of Jesus were journeying to the other side, their boat was beaten by waves until Jesus stepped in. However, today, we shall reflect on 5 lessons we need to bear in mind as we journey in life.
1. GOD MANIFESTS HIMSELF TO US IN VARIOUS WAYS: In the 1st reading, Elijah thought he would encounter God in the fierce wind or in the earthquake or in the fire but he didn’t. Rather, he encountered God in the gentle breeze. This teaches us that God manifests himself to us in various ways. He manifested himself to Abraham as a visitor (cf. Gen. 18); to Moses, as fire in the burning bush (cf. Ex. 3); to Elijah as a gentle breeze (cf. 1st Reading); to the disciples tossed about on the sea as a supernatural being (cf. Gospel reading) and to the Emmaus disciples as a stranger (cf. Luke 24). Today, he still manifests himself through our friends who admonish us, the preachers we listen to, the places we visit, the people we encounter, etc. Let us not limit God to one mode of manifestation but pray for the grace to recognize God in whatever way he comes to us.
2. WHEN WE JOURNEY TO THE OTHER SIDE WITHOUT JESUS, WE EXPOSE OURSELVES TO DANGER: The disciples must have had a very stressful day distributing food to a very large crowd. The Bible did not tell us why they could not wait to go with Christ. It may be because they were tired, wanted to go home immediately to rest and so couldn’t wait for Jesus who wanted to stay behind to dismiss the crowd. When they left for the other side without Jesus, they got into danger with their boat tossed about by the waves. When we are always in a hurry and unable to wait for God’s time, we endanger ourselves. Many want to marry, give birth, be rich, secure that contract, etc., immediately, without Jesus, because they can’t wait for God’s time. They think God is too slow. They abandon God and turn to evil as a means but at the end, they end up in deeper troubles. The other side could mean for us beginning a new phase in life: securing a job upon graduation, beginning a new business, assuming a new position at work, etc. Let us be patient enough to journey with Jesus, we may be slow, but we will definitely arrive at our destination in safety.
3. GOD DOES NOT ABANDON US EVEN WHEN WE ABANDON HIM: God is interested in us and does not abandon us in our difficulties, even when we abandon him. Unlike us, he is always faithful. Jesus aware of what his disciples were passing through, moved immediately to rescue them. He is a God who seeks out the lost. He comes to us at the 4th watch of the night (3am-6am), when darkness begins to give way to light. This assures us that no matter how dark the night is, Jesus meets us at daybreak. In our journey to the other side, we may have left Jesus behind and are suffering the consequences of abandoning Jesus, if we call out to him like Peter to save us, he will definitely save us. He will do what is unusual (walking on the sea), just to save us. He journeys with us uninvited and still says to us in the midst of all we are passing through: “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid”.
4. FAITH EMPOWERS US TO DO GREAT THINGS BUT FEAR ROBS US OF ALL WE HAVE: Jesus says: “whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these” (John 14:12). Thus, with faith, like St. Paul, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (cf. Phil 4:13). With faith and focusing on Jesus, Peter was able to join Jesus and walk on the sea. Immediately, he lost his faith in and focus on Jesus, he began to sink, until he cried out for help. Fear comes in only when we lose our focus on Jesus and it robs us of the power we have as children of God. Rather than allow ourselves to be consumed by fear when we are in trouble, let us increase our faith in Jesus.
5. WHEN JESUS STEPS IN, EVERY STORM CEASES: Jesus has authority over all powers operating in the universe. In his presence all powers bow. If we succeed in allowing Jesus to step into the boats of our lives, marriages, businesses, education, politics, etc., the negative powers threatening us will bow before him and cease to exist. For marriages, families, businesses, etc, whose boat is threatened by various forms of waves, invite Jesus and as soon as he steps in, he takes control. God loves you. Happy Sunday.
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