1st Reading – 1 Kings 19:9a, 11-13a
At the mountain of God, Horeb,
Elijah came to a cave where he took shelter.
Then the LORD said to him,
“Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD;
the LORD will be passing by.”
A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains
and crushing rocks before the LORD—
but the LORD was not in the wind.
After the wind there was an earthquake—
but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
After the earthquake there was fire—
but the LORD was not in the fire.
After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound.
When he heard this,
Elijah hid his face in his cloak
and went and stood at the entrance of the cave.
The 19th chapter of 1st Kings is the story of Elijah, who was a prophet during the reign of King Ahab (869-850 BC). Ahab was married to Jezebel, who worshipped Baal. Ahab also worshipped Baal and even erected an altar to Baal.
Today’s reading joins Elijah as he is fleeing for his life. Jezebel is seeking to kill him in retaliation for destroying the false prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:40).
At the mountain of God, Horeb,
Mountains were considered sacred by many ancient peoples due to their awe-inspiring grandeur. Their lofty peaks were seen as a physical bridge between the earthly realm and the celestial realm, making them a natural place for divine encounters.
Horeb is another name for Mount Sinai, where the covenant was revealed to Moses and through him to the Israelite people (Exodus 3:1-4, 3:17, 33:18-34:9). It was fitting that Elijah, whose mission it was to reestablish the covenant and restore the pure faith, returned there.
Recall that both Moses and Elijah appeared on a mountain with Christ at the time of his transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9).
Elijah came to a cave, where he took shelter. Then the LORD said, “Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD; the LORD will be passing by.”
God instructs Elijah to emerge from his shelter in a cave and stand before him.
Unlike Moses, who asked God to show himself (Exodus 33:18), Elijah received this revelation at God’s initiative.
A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the LORD—but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake—but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was fire—but the LORD was not in the fire.
In Israelite tradition, God’s self-revelations (i.e. theophanies) are often accompanied by awe-inspiring natural phenomena; for example, Exodus 19:16-18 and Job 38-41.
After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound.
Notice the striking juxtaposition between the spectacular forces of nature, where God’s presence is absent, and the subtle sound of a gentle breeze (qôl) in which Elijah recognizes God’s presence.
There is a correlation here with today’s gospel reading: Like the disciples on the storm-tossed sea, Elijah is in a time of need and has difficulty recognizing the Lord as he passes by.
When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance of the cave.
Realizing the awesome presence of God in the tiny whispering sound, Elijah covers his face as an act of submission and humility.
Elijah’s encounter reminds us that God often reveals Himself in the simple and ordinary moments of life. We tend to seek the extraordinary and miss the beauty in the everyday. However, it is in the ordinary moments that God’s gentle whispers can be heard — if only we are attentive to them.
2nd Reading – Romans 9:1-5
Brothers and sisters:
I speak the truth in Christ, I do not lie;
my conscience joins with the Holy Spirit in bearing me witness
that I have great sorrow and constant anguish in my heart.
For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ
for the sake of my own people,
my kindred according to the flesh.
They are Israelites;
theirs the adoption, the glory, the covenants,
the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises;
theirs the patriarchs, and from them,
according to the flesh, is the Christ,
who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.
This week we move forward to Chapter 9 of Saint Paul’s letter to the Romans, which marks a significant transition. Romans 8 presents a powerful and uplifting message of hope and assurance, emphasizing the victory of believers through their union with Christ. Romans 9 shifts the focus to Paul’s deep anguish and concern for his fellow Israelites due to their failure to recognize the Messiah.
Like Elijah in our first reading, Paul is in great distress.
I speak the truth in Christ, I do not lie; my conscience joins with the Holy Spirit in bearing me witness
Paul opens with a solemn threefold declaration about the seriousness and truth of the message that will follow: I speak the truth; I do not lie; the Holy Spirit is my witness.
that I have great sorrow and constant anguish in my heart.
Paul is distressed at the condition of his fellow Israelites.
Although Paul devoted himself to the conversion of the Gentiles (Acts 13:46-48), he never stopped loving his native people. This love is the source of his distress because they fail to recognize Jesus as the Messiah promised by God.
Paul’s reaction is not one of anger but of heartbroken sorrow.
“Since it appears that earlier he was speaking against the Jews, who thought that they were justified by the law, Paul now shows his desire and love for them and says that his conscience bears witness in Christ Jesus and in the Holy Spirit.” [The Ambrosiaster (ca. 366-384 AD), Commentaries on Thirteen Pauline Epistles Romans 9,2]
For I could wish that I myself were accursed and separated from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kin according to the flesh.
The intensity of Paul’s distress is reflected in a drastic proposal. He is willing to be cursed (anáthema) and cut off from Christ for the sake of his fellow Israelites.
Interestingly, Paul is not the first leader to offer such a sacrifice. After the Israelites sinned by worshipping the golden calf, Moses feared that their future as God’s people was in jeopardy. Out of love for them, he offered himself as a vicarious sacrifice:
“But now, if you will forgive their sin—but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written.” —Exodus 32:32
They are Israelites; theirs the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; theirs the patriarchs,
Paul highlights the unique privileges and blessings bestowed upon the Israelites as God’s chosen people, including their status as God’s adopted children, his glorious presence among them, the covenants he made with them, the giving of the law, their worship practices, and the promises made to their forefathers, the patriarchs.
and from them, according to the flesh, is the Christ,
To this summary of Israel’s seven historic privileges, Saint Paul adds an eighth, the climax, the culmination of all the privileges: “Messiah” — the descendent par excellence.
The fact that the savior of all mankind is from the Israelite nation is their greatest claim to glory, but tragically, they do not realize Christ’s true identity.
Everything in salvation history had been a preparation for the coming of the Christ, the Anointed One of God, and yet they rejected him. This is the source of Paul’s anguish.
who is over all, God blessed forever.
This is an explicit declaration of Jesus’ divinity: Jesus Christ, as true man, is an Israelite “according to the flesh,” and he is true God because he is “God above all, blessed forever.”
Amen.
“Amen” comes from Hebrew and is used in both the Old and New Testaments to express agreement, affirmation, or a solemn “so be it.”
Paul closes these statements with “amen” to emphasize the validity and weight of this teaching.
Gospel – Matthew 14:22-33
After he had fed the people, Jesus made the disciples get into a boat
and precede him to the other side,
while he dismissed the crowds.
After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.
When it was evening he was there alone.
Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore,
was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it.
During the fourth watch of the night,
he came toward them walking on the sea.
When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified.
“It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear.
At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”
Peter said to him in reply,
“Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”
He said, “Come.”
Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.
But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened;
and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter,
and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
After they got into the boat, the wind died down.
Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying,
“Truly, you are the Son of God.”
This week’s gospel reading is the famous story of Jesus walking on water, which occurs immediately after last week’s Feeding of the Five Thousand.
After he had fed the people, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.
The Feeding of the Five Thousand occurred took place in a remote area near Bethsaida on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee.
Jesus directs his apostles to travel by boat ahead of them “to the other side,” i.e., cross to the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee.
After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone.
Jesus creates an opportunity for himself between one demanding activity and another to withdraw in private prayer, teaching us the importance of reflecting and connecting with God in the midst of our endeavors.
For other examples of Jesus’ frequent personal prayer, see Mark 1:35, 6:47; Luke 5:16, 6:12.
Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it.
The Sea of Galilee is situated in a depression known as the Jordan Rift Valley, with surrounding hills and mountains. The temperature differences between the cool air of the highlands and the warmer air over the sea can lead to sudden changes in weather patterns.
That is why the Sea of Galilee is well known for its sudden and violent storms, even to this day. These storms can cause huge waves that are hazardous to fishing boats and small watercraft. Even experienced fishermen are at risk when caught in such storms, as the waves can be fierce and challenging to navigate.
During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them, walking on the sea.
The Roman military divided the night into four watches of three hours each, which means this episode took place sometime between 3 AM and 6 AM, the darkest hours of the night.
When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear.
The appearance of a figure walking on the water seemed physically impossible, leading them to react with fear and confusion.
At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”
Jesus quickly addresses their fear by identifying himself. Importantly, he does so by using the theophanic statement: “It is I,” or literally, “I AM” (egō eimi). This expression carries a profound theological significance, as it echoes the divine name given to Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:14). By using this phrase, Jesus emphasizes his divine identity as the Son of God.
Jesus follows this with the typical assurance given to those experiencing a theophany: Do not be afraid. (For other examples, see Genesis 46:3, Judges 6:23, Daniel 10:12, Luke 1:30).
Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”
Note the “if” in Peter’s statement: he is not sure.
He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.
Peter accepts Jesus’ invitation and ventures out onto the water, displaying remarkable faith as he actually walks on the water.
But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
When Peter’s attention shifts away from his faith to the danger around him, fear and doubt take hold, and he sinks.
Peter’s actions show how faith can empower individuals to achieve extraordinary feats through the power of Christ. This story also warns against the corrosive impact of doubt, which, left unchecked, can undermine even the strongest faith.
Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him,
Ultimately, Peter’s faith wins out. He cries out to Jesus, knowing that he has the power to save him, and Jesus does just that.
and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
Jesus gently admonishes Peter for his wavering faith.
This rebuke is not harsh or condemning but serves as a soft correction and a teachable moment for Peter. The phrase “you of little faith” is not meant to belittle Peter but to encourage him to grow in faith. After all, it took significant faith to step out of the boat in the first place.
After they got into the boat, the wind died down.
In the ancient Near East, water was cherished because of its vital role in sustaining life, but it was also feared because of the chaos and devastation it caused via floods and storms.
All the theophanic elements of the story now come together: Jesus has walked over the chaotic water in the manner of a conqueror, he has identified with the great “I AM,” he has rescued Peter from drowning in the turbulent storm.
Now, although the text does not say that Jesus calmed the wind, the storm abates when he gets into the boat.
Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God.”
This entire event is a demonstration of Jesus divine power. Accordingly, Matthew records the first time in the synoptic gospels that anyone — specifically, everyone in the boat — referred to Jesus “the Son of God.”
We need only to recognize and accept his divinity for him to save us as well.
Connections and Themes
The whispering sound. While divine power can certainly manifest itself in dramatic and powerful ways, it also dwells in the tiniest details of creation. God is present in rays of sunlight filtering through the leaves of a tree, a butterfly emerging from a cocoon, and the smile of a child. We all live in the midst of God’s exquisite craftsmanship. Even the breath in our lungs is part of his design. Life itself unfolds as a mountaintop encounter with God.
Subdue chaos. As awe-inspiring as life is, it can also be terrifying. Humanity often fails to understand or live in harmony with the natural order of God’s creation, resulting in chaos. Our human tendencies only make matters worse: jealousy, greed, and ambition lead to social discord, which adds to the tumult. Our personal lives can also unravel, leaving us feeling lost and insecure. At some point, everyone encounters the overwhelming demands of life.
In those challenging times, our faith is critical. Christ has the power to subdue our fears and calm our hearts, yet our desire for self-reliance makes us hesitant to cry out to him for help when life’s circumstances threaten to drown us.
Today’s gospel reading shows us that merely acknowledging Jesus or facing danger for his sake isn’t sufficient. We must have deep faith in his divine power and rely on him to see us through the chaos. If we depend solely on ourselves, we risk being engulfed even further in the chaos.
Concern for others. An important theme of Ordinary Time is the exploration of discipleship, including the responsibilities of living out one’s faith and growing in holiness. Paul exemplifies these responsibilities in our second reading through his compassionate love for his people and his selfless intercession on their behalf.
When a believer encounters God, that experience must be shared – the gift received must be given to others. Paul’s willingness to offer himself in exchange for God’s grace toward the Jewish people is a beautiful example of this.
A genuine experience of God, whether in the context of the beauty of life, the ordinariness of existence, or in life’s deepest struggles, is transformative. God’s love inspires us to love others so deeply that we are ready to suffer anything for their conversion to God. When we connect with God intimately and encounter his love, that love cannot be contained — it must be proclaimed!
Sunday Readings 