Sunday, August 11, 2002
19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
1st Reading: 1 K 19:9, 11-13
When Elijah reached Horeb, the mountain of God, he came to the cave and
stayed in it. Then the word of Yahweh came to him,"What are you doing
here, Elijah?"
Then Yahweh said, "Go up and stand on the mount, waiting for Yahweh."
And Yahweh passed by.
There was first a windstorm, wild wind which rent the mountains and broke
the rocks into pieces before Yahweh, but Yahweh was not in the wind. After
the storm, an earthquake, but Yahweh was not in the earthquake. After
the earthquake, a fire, but Yahweh was not in the fire. After the fire,
the murmur of a gentle breeze. When Elijah perceived it, he covered his
face with his cloak, went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.
2nd Reading: Rom 9:1-5
Brothers and sisters, I tell you sincerely in Christ, and my conscience
assures me in the Holy Spirit that I am not lying: I have great sadness
and constant anguish for the Jews. I would even desire that I myself suffer
the curse of being cut off from Christ, instead of my brethren: I mean
my own people, my kin. They are Israelites whom God adopted, and on them
rests his Glory. Theirs are the covenants, the Law, the worship and the
promises of God. They are descendants of the Patriarchs and from their
race Christ was born, he who as God is above all distinctions. Blessed
be He forever and ever: Amen!
Gospel: Mt 14:22-33
After
he had fed the people, Jesus obliged his disciples to get into the boat
and go ahead of him to the other side, while he sent the crowd away.
And having sent the people away, he went up the mountain by himself to
pray. At nightfall, he was there alone. Meanwhile, the boat was very far
from land, dangerously rocked by the waves for the wind was against it.
At daybreak, Jesus came to them walking on the lake. When they saw him
walking on the sea, they were terrified, thinking that it was a ghost.
And they cried out in fear. But at once Jesus said to them, "Courage!
Don't be afraid. It's me!" Peter answered, "Lord, if it is you,
command me to come to you walking on the water."
Jesus said to him, "Come." And Peter got out of the boat, walking
on the water to go to Jesus. But, in face of the strong wind, he was afraid
and began to sink. So he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Jesus immediately
stretched out his hand and took hold of him, saying, "Man of little
faith, why did you doubt?"
As they got into the boat, the wind dropped. Then those in the boat bowed
down before Jesus saying, "Truly, you are the Son of God!"
Commentary
Courage, capacity to risk, sense of initiative, leadership, faith in Jesus, and capacity to accept and to laugh at their own mistakes and weaknesses are some of the expected traits in those applying to enter Claret Seminary in Quezon City. These also seem to be the requirements for all disciples of Christ. "Command me to go to you," asked Peter to Jesus. "Come," said Jesus. And Peter was able to walk on the waters at least for some moments. The gospel is not interested in emphasizing Peter's doubt, but his faith. Peter was the only disciple who dared to attempt something that seemed to be reserved for Jesus. He went through fears and doubts, moments of excitement and failures, and when he joined his companions again in the boat he was though soaked, the happiest of them.