There is a message of presence in today\u2019s readings, but not a passive presence. It is a presence that asks for mission. It is a presence that is reassuring and offers support for mission. Elijah comes to realise that the presence of God can be encountered in a gentle breeze. Writing to the Romans, Paul sees the presence of Christ on earth as the salvation of humanity brought to a climax and Matthew portrays the presence of Christ coming to his panicking disciples and casting out all fear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The word of the Lord came to him asking what he was doing in this remote cave. Elijah answered that he had done all he could but nobody listened, so he fled for his life. He was then told to stand on the mountain for the Lord was about to pass by.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He witnesses an extraordinarily powerful wind that tears rocks apart. This is followed by an earthquake and then fire. But the Lord was not present in any of these terrifying and powerful phenomena. The poetry here is really liturgical: The LORD was not in the wind. The Lord was in the silence. This questions traditional assumptions. The Hebrew actually says the Lord was in the delicate silence. In this case listening was more important than dramatic spectacles. The Lord then sent Elijah on mission to fulfil his prophetic role. This encourages us to find the Lord in the unexpected. Psalm 85<\/strong> Here is a psalm from the post-exilic period after Babylon had been crushed by the Persians (539 BCE ). The exiles are now free to return to Jerusalem, but it is mostly the priestly and upper classes that return. Many of the ordinary exiled Jews remain in Babylon where they had established prosperous lives. The poet sings of a new era in which the errors of the past will be replaced by the fidelity and justice of renewed national freedom. Faithfulness to the Lord is hailed as the key to prosperity. Romans 9:1-5<\/strong> Paul is here reflecting on the fact that God had appointed the Jews to be thechosen people and now the divine call goes to the Gentiles. With some patriotic lament he regrets the fact that Israel, his people, rejected the Gospel he preached and rejected Jesus. We read in John 1:11, \u2018He came to what was his own but his own people did not accept him.\u2019 They failed in faith and trust<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We get a clear picture of Paul\u2019s disappointment in these verses. He experiences profound anguish over Israel\u2019s lack of faith. The Law of Moses was their proud possession and the Temple worship and its liturgical paraphernalia gave them cause for self-satisfaction. In other words, they had enough foundation and tradition to recognise Jesus as the Messiah, but they failed in faith and trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These verses are a powerful statement of how the trappings of religion can overtake the practice of service, compassion and justice that lies at the foundation of authentic faith. The Gospel of John points out clearly that authentic belief expresses itself in allegiance to Christ and living by his word. Matthew 14:22-33<\/strong> This extract speaks about what is involved in adult faith. It reflects on trust, fear, following Christ, and recognising his presence in the face of life\u2019s challenges. There\u2019s a good number of things we can take from this over-the-top episode. Here\u2019s just a few. People in the ancient East saw the sea as the abode of monsters and all kinds of fearful legendary creatures. The disciples in the boat were clearly in fear of their lives as their boat was being tossed around by the storm. Then Jesus appears in their moment of terror. But doesn\u2019t Peter represent all of us when we fail to recognise Christ present in different times of life? Can we recognise him in the acts of kindness done to us or in a friendly word that was not heroic or skull-melting? Can we see him when individuals reach out to make connection with us, showing empathy or mere support clothed in positive vibes?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Apparently not in Peter\u2019s case. He had the cheek to do a deal with Jesus, coming out with a transactional proposal, \u2018If it\u2019s really you, bid me to come to you on the water.\u2019 Jesus agrees, but he must be thinking, \u2018What\u2019s with the IF?\u2019 What kind of half-baked trust is this? The point is, Jesus has turned up in their moment of deadly fear and urged them not to be afraid. Can we follow Jesus\u2019 example and reach out when we see a knitted brow?<\/strong> Peter\u2019s inner feeling of \u2018this can\u2019t be real\u2019 caused him to sink. Jesus responds, \u2018Stop analysing the situation. Just have the kind of faith that leads to confident trust.\u2019 It feels like a situation of, \u2018Wake up to yourself, mate, haven\u2019t you been with me long enough now to have grown in simple trust and reliance?\u2019 Doesn\u2019t this say something about the disease of the compulsive controller? It won\u2019t work unless I am in charge!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fear isn\u2019t the real issue here. It\u2019s how we face it and deal with it. Peter\u2019s first response was not simple acceptance but a bargain or haggle based on mistrust. \u2018If it\u2019s really you, I need proof.\u2019 It just seems to me that if we are used to giving we are in a good position to recognise \u2018gift\u2019 from others. This is no big deal or the act of formal gift-giving. It is the little daily things we do for others to sustain connection and share our spirit. A smile or simple greeting can lift another\u2019s soul. Taking steps to be reconciled where a relationship has broken down, or just lost a wheel, can cause spirits to soar with relief. It takes little steps, but they really can\u2019t be transactional \u2013 like Peter\u2019s deal with Jesus. \u2018I won\u2019t make a move unless s\/he apologises.\u2019 Forget it! That\u2019s no way to move forward. Now do it like a grown-up. \u2018Take courage. It is I. Don\u2019t be afraid.\u2019 Let\u2019s keep an eye out for Jesus who will turn up in unexpected ways and times \u2013 very often in the guise of other human beings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ~~~<\/p>\n\n\n\n Do one thing every day that scares you.<\/em> A patient at the mental health facility was leaning over the wall looking out over the road, and he saw a man pushing a wheelbarrow full of manure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018What\u2019s that for?\u2019 he asked. Dr Laurie Woods<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" There is a message of presence in today\u2019s readings, but not a passive presence. It is a presence that asks for mission. It is a presence that is reassuring and offers support for mission. Elijah comes to realise that the presence of God can be encountered in a gentle breeze. Writing to the Romans, Paul […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":29049,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[38,45,26,44,24,55,8,32,50,41,25,51,34,54,47,31,42,39,48,46,52,40,37,35,28,43,53,36,27,33,29],"class_list":["post-29048","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsletter","tag-ancient-wisdom","tag-contemplative-prayer","tag-enlightenment","tag-guided-meditation","tag-inner-peace","tag-introspection","tag-lectio-divina","tag-lectio-divina-for-beginners","tag-life-transformation","tag-meditation-guide","tag-meditation-mastery","tag-meditation-tips","tag-mindfulness","tag-mindfulness-meditation","tag-mindfulness-practices","tag-mindfulness-techniques","tag-personal-development","tag-reflect-and-transform","tag-reflective-living","tag-sacred-reading","tag-self-discovery","tag-self-help","tag-soulful-journey","tag-soulful-living","tag-spiritual-awakening","tag-spiritual-growth","tag-spiritual-guide","tag-spiritual-insights","tag-spiritual-practice","tag-spiritual-reflection","tag-transformative-journey"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
1 Kings 19:9, 11-13 This is a marvellous episode heightened by poetic artistry in the telling.<\/strong>
The prophet Elijah (Heb. Eli-Yahu = YHWH is my God) has fled to Mt Horeb (Sinai) feeling exhausted, discouraged and afraid. His message to his fellow Israelites has fallen on deaf ears; they have forsaken the covenant and killed the prophets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The LORD was not in the earthquake.
The LORD was not in the fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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This is us. Do we have the trust to see Jesus in the person who smiles and calls us to courage? Can we, in turn, follow Jesus\u2019 example and reach out when we see a knitted brow or an anxious spirit? We live in a world these days where anxiety has a tight grip on so many hearts. So much inexplicable behaviour seems to come from anxiety and we can\u2019t take it for granted that the people we live and work with are always free from inner disturbance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Eleanor Roosevelt
~~~<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018It\u2019s to put on my rhubarb,\u2019 replied the man.
\u2018You should come in here. We get custard on ours.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n