FROM THE PULPIT NINETEENTH SUNDAY ORDINARY TIME YEAR A REFLECTION BY FATHER BENOIT
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FROM THE PULPIT
NINETEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME A
SCRIPTURE: 1 Kings 19: 9a, 11-13a; Romans 9: 1-5: Matthew 14: 22-33.
REFLECTIONS: God in the chaos.
Fr. Benoit Mukamba, CSSp.
In our everyday conversations, it isn’t unusual that someone responds to your greeting, “How are you?”, by “I am hanging there”. What this answer may mean the person is going through doubts and uncertainty. The individual feels like walking on non-solid ground, on the water. As wonderful and beautiful life might be, it could also be very frightening. The natural processes of creation and conflicts generated by human beings and their institutions engender turbulent events and times. These turbulent events and times may be very threatening to life and unsettling. They are chaotic. They may last from the shortest moment to a very prolonged period extending to several years. The Second World War lasted five years while the Cold War took forty-five year to come to end. The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic in South Korea has left three hundred and three dead; 13,543 recovered In 14,519 persons infected. There are still 673 sick (as of August 7, 2020). We can say the Koreans see the end of Covid-19 from their country within reach. But for us, we can only hope to experience freedom from Covid-19 as long as it takes.
These days are chaotic times for us. Our medicals are struggling to find an appropriate treatment that leads to cure while fighting for their own survival every day of duty. The sick are suffering alone separated from family members. Our political leaders are negotiating between human survival, economics and their own political carriers as they face their ballot box. Faith and doubt have become tide waves of the Christian person. But, where is God? What does he want to say to us through our chaos? “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid”; these words of assurance come from the mouth of Jesus at a time that his disciples were in serious trouble in the face of the chaos created by storms and waves of the lake. Similarly, in the chaos of the strong and heavy wind rending the mountains and crushing rocks, the earthquake and the fire, the Lord God appeared to Elijah in the tiny whispering sound. The Lord brought to end the threatening chaos. Where is God; he is in our chaos and invites us to be courageous and not to fear. His power is there to bring to calm and normalcy our lives and end the chaos that surrounds us. God wants us to understand and depend on his power at work in creation; he remains the Master of all forces despite the threat of chaos.
Prophet Elijah found himself in a cave on Horeb, because he was running for his own life. King Ahab (874-853) and Jezebel wanted him dead. He was afraid and doubted just as the disciples were in the boat. In the chaotic judgement, condemnation and crucifixion of Jesus, where was his father God? The father of Our Lord Jesus was present with him. Possibly saying to Jesus, courage; be not afraid; I am with you. God does not abandon us in our chaos. He raised his Son Jesus from the dead. He brought calm and assurance to Elijah. He calmed the stormy lake and gave peace to the disciples.
Let us, dear brothers and sisters, hold firm to faith and have courage to brave our times of tribulations and trials. May the Spirit of the Father and of his Son Jesus help us all.