1 Kings 19:9-13; Psalm 85; Romans 9:1-5; Matthew 14:22-33
The
story of Jesus walking on water in the fury of a storm is a favorite of many. It
is a call for greater trust and we easily find ourselves like Peter who
impetuously answers the call to walk towards Jesus, but then gets sidetracked
by the swirling storm and the deep sea. We lose our focus on the one who can calm
us. If you are a high sensate like me, one who is notices the tiny, sensory,
environmental details, keeping focus on Jesus is difficult. We are the ones who
pay attention to the many distracting voices while searching for the one who
can ultimately guide us to the right place.
Having
recently completed directing the 30-day Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of
Loyola, I recognize how difficult it is to earn trust even for those steeped in
religious life. Some find it difficult to trust Jesus because of their images
of Jesus Christ. If he is only a transcendent God-man, it is not easy to relate
to him because he is always in control and is always God. If he is fully human,
we can find a brother who endured the same difficulties we face. It is much
easier to develop a friendship with one who is like us than one who is an altogether
different being. The power balance can be too great to overcome.
The
disciples saw Jesus as merely a man. They prayed with him, learned from him, ate
with him, and had leisure time with him. Because he was so like them, they were
fearful when they encountered him in supernatural situations. It bent their
minds so much to cause them to wonder about the source of his power. His humanity
made him credible, and his humanity pointed to the power of God as the source
of his words and works. Even when we have known before birth, we may find it
difficult to talk with and place greater trust in him.
Many factors prevent us from trusting
him: our undeveloped catechesis, the strength of our will (because we have
learned to do things to our satisfaction on our own), memories, disordered
attachments and lack of awareness and freedom. We increase our trust in him
when we get to know him more familiarly. I find it helpful to ask myself the
same question at different points of the day. As I review my morning or
afternoon, I ask, "Where were you, O Christ, in this past segment of my
day?" Then I let him answer. I'm often pleasantly surprised at some
insignificant event that becomes meaningful. I find Christ in the details of my
unconsciousness that shape the way I respond to my environment for the rest of
the day.
I
have come to relish the quiet moments of the day even if I can only snatch five
minutes. Because of this, the reading from 1 Kings 19 has been meaningful to
me. In the passage, Elijah is in a cave on Mount Horeb where he expects the
meet God who can be found in storms, but he does not find him in the thunderous
fury or the brilliant lightning. He finds him in the stillness that follows the
whispering wind. When our storms settle down, we are able to hear the voice of
Christ more clearly - in a way we can trust. Christ does not make himself known
with clanging symbols, but with a still small voice that resonates in our
hearts.
It
is right for us to pay greater attention to the stillness of our hearts. When
the storms of our lives have passed over, we will certainly hear the comforting
voice of Christ to take away our fear. As we become familiar with him, the
volume of his voice can rise above the whipping winds and turbulent gales. With
perseverance, his voice can be the only sound we hear despite the clamor that
rages beyond us.
Themes for this Week’s Masses
First
Reading: In Exodus, the frail and elderly Moses asks the
people to remember the kindness of the Lord and to follow the commandments
given to the people in loving protection. At 120 years of age, Moses says he
cannot cross the Jordan to enter and occupy it; the Lord and Joshua will cross
into it, but he will remain behind. The Lord promised to be with Joshua who
ordered the priests to carry the ark of the covenant with them into the Jordan
and to halt in the middle. The water stopped flowing and all Israel crossed
over safely on dry land. Joshua gathered the twelve tribes at Shechem and spoke
of behalf of the Lord recalling the Lord's favor to them throughout history
beginning with Abraham. All this is the Lord's doing and not the achievement of
the people or its leaders. In Joshua's speech, the people answered that they
will serve the Lord and the Lord alone through him. Joshua made a covenant with
the people that day and then set up a large stone in the sanctuary of the Lord
as a witness to the covenant.
Gospel:
Following the Transfiguration, Jesus predicts his Passion. Temple tax
collectors try to trick Jesus about his attitude toward paying the taxes and
Jesus cleverly respects both religious and civic observances. Young children
are brought to Jesus and his disciples swish them away, but he beckons them to
come to him and enjoy the blessings of playing lightly in his company. Jesus
then reminds the people that their lives are to be like a grain of wheat that
falls to the ground and dies as it awaits its rebirth in fullness. Jesus then
tells a parable of the necessity of constant forgiveness, but Pharisees
immediately launch a debate about the conditions for divorce. Jesus tells them
that divorce was introduced because of human attitudes; it is not how God
intends for us to deal with our most intimate friends. Children are once again
brought to Jesus where he blesses them and bestows the goodness of the kingdom
of heaven upon them.
Saints of the Week
Monday: Dominic,
priest (1170-1221), was a Spaniard who was sent to southern France to
counter the heretical teachings of the Albigensians, who held that the material
world was evil and only religious asceticism could combat those forces. Dominic
begged and preached in an austere fashion and set the foundations for the new
Order of Preachers for both men and women.
Tuesday: Teresa
Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein), martyr (1891-1942), became a Catholic
convert from Judaism after reading the autobiography of Teresa of Avila. He
earned a doctorate in philosophy, but was unemployable because she was a woman.
She taught at a high school for eight years before entering the Carmelites in
1933 where she made final vows in 1938. She moved to Holland to escape
persecution by the Nazis, but was arrested when the bishops spoke out against
the persecution of the Jews.
Wednesday: Lawrence,
deacon and martyr (d. 258) was martyred four days after Pope Sixtus II and
six other deacons during the Valerian persecution. A beautiful story is told
about Lawrence's words. When asked to surrender the church's treasure, Lawrence
gathered the poor and presented them to the civil authorities. For this
affront, he was martyred. He is the patron of Rome.
Thursday: Clare,
founder (1193-1253), was inspired by Francis of Assist so much that she
fled her home for his community to receive the Franciscan habit on Passion
Sunday 1212. She lived in a nearby Benedictine convent until she was made
superior of a new community in San Damiano. She practiced radical poverty by
wearing no shoes, sleeping on the ground, and giving up meat.
Friday: Jane
Frances de Chantal, religious (1572-1641), founded the Congregation of the
Visitation with her spiritual advisor, Francis de Sales. This congregation was
for women who wanted to live in religious life, but without the austerity of
the other orders. Jane was married to a Baron with whom she had six children
and she sought religious answers to her suffering. Her order established
eighty-five convents dedicated to serving the poor before she died.
Saturday: Pontian,
pope and martyr and Hippolytus, priest and martyr (d.236). Pontian's papacy
was interrupted by a persecution when the Roman Emperor Maximinus arrested him
and his rival, Hippolytus, and banished them to Sardinia. Pontian resigned so
another pope could succeed him. Hippolytus, who formed a schismatic group and
claimed to be the real pope, reconciled with the church before he and Pontian
were martyred.
This Week in Jesuit History
·
Aug
7, 1814. The universal restoration of the Society of Jesus.
·
Aug
8, 1604. St Peter Claver takes his first vows at Tarracona. · Aug 9, 1762. The moving of the English College from St Omers to Liege.
· Aug 10, 1622. Blessed Augustine Ota, a Japanese brother, was beheaded for the faith. He had been baptized by Blessed Camillus Costanzi on the eve of the latter's martyrdom.
· Aug 11, 1846. The death of Benedict Joseph Fenwick. He was the second bishop of Boston, twice the president of Georgetown, and the founder of the College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts.
· Aug 12, 1877. The death of Fr. Maurice Gailland. He was an expert in languages and spent many years at St Mary's Mission in Kansas. He wrote a 450.page dictionary and grammar of the Potawatomi language.
· Aug 13, 1621. The death in Rome of St John Berchmans. He died while still in studies, preparing for a public disputation.
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