Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk

Nineteenth Sunday of the Year, A – August 13, 2017

 Readings: 1 Kings 19:9,11-13; Responsorial Psalm Ps 84:9-14; 

Rom 9:1-5 & Gospel Matthew 14:22-33.

Theme: Courage, do not be afraid!  

Introduction

Beloved in Christ, this Sunday, our liturgy calls us to fix our gaze on Christ, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). It also calls us to demonstrate an unwavering hope in the Lord who is able to do much more than we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). The theme of our reflection “Courage, do not be afraid,” is premised on the encounter between Jesus and his apostles as we hear from the gospel (Matthew 14:22-33) on the Sea of Galilee. We shall weave this reflection around the metaphoric interpretation of the gospel narrative situating it around contemporary pastoral implications.

Metaphoric Interpretation of the Gospel Narrative

In unraveling the text, we shall try to understand the symbolic meaning of the sea and the headwind while situating the disciples and the Lord, Jesus in proper perspective:

(a). The Boat: The boat represents the Church. What readily comes to mind here is the ark of Noah which saved only the righteous in Old Testament times.  In like manner, the boat that Jesus and his apostles used symbolizes the new ark which is the Church sailing on the sea. 

(b). The Sea: The sea stands for the world. Put in proper perspective, the ark symbolized by the boat sails on the sea which is the world. 

(b). The Headwind: The headwind represents the trials, tribulations and temptations in the world which keep tossing believers about. These come in form of sickness, hunger, unemployment, death, bereavement, rejection and persecution just to mention a few. 

(d). The Disciples: The disciples represent priests, religious and laity who live in a world that is full of headwind. 

(c). The Lord, Jesus:  The presence of Jesus who comes to calm the wind and saves Peter from drowning assures of the Lord’s abiding presence in the Church amidst the vicissitudes of life.  

Pastoral Implications 

Our liturgy calls for a renewed faith in the Lord. This renewed faith entails situating ourselves around the values the gospel relates in the following ways:  

1. The onus lies on the people of God, priests, religious and laity to carry everyone along on the boat represented by the Church. As it were, on the boat, the Mount-Zion-like-faith and Lilly-livered Christian are occupants - What this implies is that the two categories of Christians on this boat must fix their gaze on Christ least the sink like Peter.

2. The sickness, hunger, unemployment, death, bereavement, rejection and persecution which we may face in the daily event of our lives reveal the headwind we must watch out for. This means that we must never allow the bad things that happen around us to define us. Once we allow Jesus to hold us by the hand like Peter, we shall walk on the water of challenges and come out strong. 

3. As contemporary disciples, we must learn two lessons from the school of Jesus namely, walking on the water and rebuking the wind. For us to walk on the turbulent water of life, we ought to have a deep faith that is capable of not allowing us sink amidst turbulence. Rebuking the wind tells of the divine authority we enjoy as God’s sons and daughters in reprimanding and rebuking the devil and all his lieutenants.     

4. Since life is full of vicissitudes and great truculence, Jesus is often close by to save us. What he expects of us is that our faith in him should be unwavering. Developing an unwavering hope involves trusting God even when the situation is worse. The ancient serpent has a crafty way of misleading us – he threatens us with, “there is no hope.” Our recipe of faith should be an attitude of opening up to God for divine enablement and upliftment.

Aside from the call to develop a strong faith, our liturgy also calls us to take to contemplative spirituality through which we encounter God in quietude or created nature as the first reading (1 Kings 19:9,11-13) suggests. It is not surprising therefore that God reveals himself in the breeze and the sea. We must join Pope Francis in checking the devastating effects of global warming which destroys nature. Since God can speak to us through nature, we must respect it and care for it. 

Homiletic Quotes to Remember:

The sickness, hunger, unemployment, death, bereavement, rejection and persecution which we may face in the daily event of our lives reveal the headwind we must watch out for.

Our liturgy calls us to fix our gaze on Christ, the author and finisher of our faith.

The presence of Jesus who comes to calm the wind and saves Peter from drowning assures of the Lord’s abiding presence in the Church amidst the vicissitudes of life.  

Rebuking the wind tells of the divine authority we enjoy as God’s sons and daughters in reprimanding and rebuking the devil.

Just as God revealed himself to the Prophet Elijah in a gentle breeze, we are called to follow God in contemplative spirituality

Aside from the call to develop a strong faith, our liturgy also calls us to take to contemplative spirituality through which we encounter God in quietude or created nature.

Conclusion

Amidst the fear for failure, unemployment, hunger, sickness and death, Jesus comes in the dead of the night to whisper: “Courage, it is I, do not be afraid.” Just as God revealed himself to the Prophet Elijah in a gentle breeze, we are called to follow God in contemplative spirituality. Only a mature contemplative spirituality can assure us of God’s divine presence in the midst of gloomy realities. May our Sunday Worship inspire us to be courageous enough to face life as it is and to call on Jesus always especially when our faith fails like that of Peter. Have a terrific week ahead!