IN SILENCE AND PEACE, WE MAY EXPERIENCE GOD’S LOVING PRESENCE

XIX SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Matthew 14:22-33

Throughout the ages, in many cultures, people experienced the sacred and the divine in the terrifying phenomena of nature, like earthquakes, volcanos, thunderstorms and tornados or hurricanes. God’s revelation in mount Sinai is presented in that way and people were so frightened that they remained at a distance, afraid of dying (Ex 19:21). 

In the first reading of this Sunday’s liturgy (1 Kings 19:9,11-13), we are told that the Prophet Elijah went to Horeb, “the mountain of God”, expecting to have an experience of God in those traditional lines. Then, he realised that God was not in the mighty wind, in the earthquake or the consuming fire. He experienced the presence of God in “the sound of a gentle breeze”, which soothes the heart, bringing peace and relief.

In the gospel, Matthew presents the apostles going through a similar experience, although taking place in a completely different setting. Jesus ordered his disciples to cross the lake, late in the evening, while he remained behind to pray. As they crossed the lake, they had a terrifying experience: first, as the boat “was battling with a heavy sea, for there was a head-wind”, they feared for their lives; then, as Jesus approached walking on the lake, they thought that a ghost was pursuing them. It is easy to see that what they went through did not facilitate any experience of God’s presence. On the contrary, they felt helpless and in danger of falling under the powers of darkness. The disciples in the boat are the Church, battling with the heavy sea of a world that rejects them and is intent on their destruction. Under such distress, feeling abandoned, they completely forgot Jesus. However, Jesus had not abandoned them and he spoke reassuring words to them saying: “Courage! It is I! Do not be afraid.” Jesus’ presence brings peace, not fear. Emboldened by Jesus’ words, Peter dared to try to walk on the waters like Jesus, “but as soon as he felt the force of the wind, he took fright and began to sink.” Again “the force of the wind” was not felt like a reassuring sign of God’s presence but as a sign of danger from which we need to be rescued. Peter cried out for help, and Jesus promptly answered his call. “Jesus put out his hand at once and held him.”. Then, as Jesus entered the boat, the wind dropped. In that peace, which was granted to them, they recognised Jesus as divine, and worshipped him: “The men in the boat bowed down before him and said, ‘Truly, you are the Son of God.”