＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

１Kings 19:9a, 11-13a

On reaching the place,

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. Then he heard a voice addressing him again, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

 

Ps 85:9, 10, 11-12, 13-14

Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.

 

＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

Romans 9:1-5

 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 ＊＊＊＊

Matthew 14:22-33

 Immediately 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!”

 

Gospel Reflection：

Read:

Yahweh says He is not found in any force of nature-windstorm, earthquake, fire. He is more powerful than any force of nature. To be separated from Him, as Paul wrote to the Romans, is to face utter devastation. Our Gospel affirms that we will sink once we doubt God’s power over the waters.

Reflect:

The world is busy updating its powers. Information technology, transport engines, war crafts, political machineries. Yet, the more powerful they become, the more insecure they are. There lies the difference.

World powers are upgraded to win believers. Faith, on the other hand, is increased to win powers. In our Gospel, Peter thought the battle is between the force of water and the force of God.

but it is actually the water versus his faith. God could have held Peter against the pull of water. But He trusts that Peter’s faith can overcome nature’s pull. Unfortunately, Peter does not.

Pray:

We pray for those who are overwhelmed by the powers of this world, which offset human conviction.

Act:

Advise a young person who succumbs to chance and fate. Teach him or her how, with conviction and faith, we can re-write and re-route even our most overwhelming conditions like poverty, in justice, boredom, competitive workplace, and dryness of relationships.