By Father Paul Nord, O.S.B.
Sunday Scripture
First Reading: 1 Kings 19:9a, 11-13a; Responsorial: Psalm 85:9-14; Second Reading: Romans 9:1-5; Gospel: Matthew 14:22-33
Our first reading (1 Kings 19) features the prophet Elijah, who rebuked the Israelites for sinning against God by worshipping Baal. They did this under the influence of evil King Ahab and Queen Jezebel (1 Kings 16:29ff). Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18) to show the Israelites that the Lord God ruled over all.
Queen Jezebel responded by threatening to kill Elijah. He fled for fear of his life. Elijah prayed for death saying: “This is enough, O LORD! Take my life” (1 Kings 19:4). In despair, Elijah falls asleep under a broom tree. God sends an angel, who touches Elijah and orders him to arise and eat. The angel provides Elijah food and drink. He consumes this, but then lays down again. The angel returns and again orders Elijah to “get up and eat.” Then Elijah walks “to the mountain of God, Horeb.” This is likely another name for Mount Sinai, where God established a covenant with the Israelites, giving them his Law (Exodus 19–24).
It was probably Elijah’s decision to journey to Mount Horeb — not God’s. Consider, in 17:3 and 17:9, God commands Elijah to go first to the brook Cherith and then to Zarephath. In 18:1, God commands Elijah to return to Israel. But God does not command Elijah to go to Mount Horeb in 1 Kings 19. The angel tells Elijah to eat lest “the journey will be too much for you.” This is likely the journey back to Israel to resume his prophetic mission, from which Elijah has fled in fear.
Most importantly, after Elijah arrives at Mount Horeb, God twice asks him: “Why are you here, Elijah?” (19:9b, 13). Unfortunately, today’s reading omits this essential question. Both times, Elijah responds that he is afraid that he will be killed. Elijah repeatedly professes his great zeal for the Lord, but Elijah has run away from his mission as prophet.
Today’s reading describes Elijah’s dramatic encounter with God at Mount Horeb. Elijah takes shelter in a cave. First God asks Elijah, “What are you doing here?” Then God commands Elijah: “Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD; the LORD will be passing by.”
God invites Elijah to a divine encounter, but it seems that Elijah fails to obey God’s command. Elijah remains in the cave during the strong wind, and during the earthquake, and during the fire.
Then Elijah hears the “tiny whispering sound.” Finally, Elijah considers obeying God’s command: “Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance of the cave.” God had told Elijah to leave the cave and to “stand on the mountain before the Lord.” Instead, Elijah cautiously peaks out of the cave, but moves no further.
Finally, God commands Elijah: “Go back! Take the desert road to Damascus … you shall anoint Elisha … as prophet to succeed you” (19:15). Elijah will continue a while longer as prophet, but God has arranged for Elijah to eventually be freed of his prophetic mission by Elisha.
In today’s second reading, St. Paul has “great sorrow and constant anguish.” The reason is that most of Paul’s fellow Jews — “my own people” — have not accepted Jesus as God’s anointed savior, the Messiah. Paul professes that he wishes that “I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ” — instead of his Jewish brothers and sisters being separated from Christ Jesus and his gift of life. Paul notes that God gave his fellow Israelites the covenants, the law, adoption as his children, and so much more. Paul does not fully understand God’s mysterious plan, but he trusts in God’s final redemption for all peoples, particularly for the Israelites.
In today’s gospel, Jesus’ disciples are traveling without him to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. This happens “after he had fed the people.” Jesus had fed 5,000 men (Matthew 14:13-21), as also recorded in Mark 6, Luke 9 and John 6.
John’s Gospel mostly focuses on events in Christ’s ministry which are different from the other three gospels. Thus it is important that John also gives an account of Jesus’ feeding of the multitude. It is remarkably similar in detail to Matthew, Mark and Luke. Further, John 6 agrees with Matthew and Mark that Jesus miraculously walked on the water shortly after he fed the great multitude.
“After he had fed the people, Jesus made the disciples get into a boat.” Matthew actually uses a stronger verb — Jesus “compelled” or “strongly urged” the disciples to get into the boat, and he did it “immediately.” Mark 6:45 uses almost identical wording to describe Jesus’ action. What is causing Jesus’ urgency?
John 6:15 explains Jesus’ quick action: “Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone.” Jesus immediately squashes the people’s efforts to make him their leader in a revolt against the Roman rulers. Then Jesus quickly sends his disciples away. Some of them may have considered cooperating with the crowds’ efforts. Consider that one of Jesus’ Twelve Apostles was “Simon the Zealot.” Being a “zealot” meant that Simon supported a rebellion against Roman authority.
“When the disciples saw [Jesus] walking on the sea they were terrified.” But Jesus commands them: “Take courage.” Jesus even invites Peter to come walking toward him on the water. When Peter begins to sink, Jesus laments that Peter has “little faith.” In a way, this anticipates Peter’s lack of faith when he later abandons and denies Jesus when Jesus is arrested and crucified.
Jesus rescues Peter, and they both board the boat. Immediately “the wind died down.”
Jesus has demonstrated his divine power over the sea and the wind. Witnessing all this, Jesus’ disciples worship him and proclaim: “Truly, you are the Son of God!”
So Jesus rejects earthly, kingly authority, but then he demonstrates his divine authority. Jesus commands us to follow him — seeking the kingdom of God, not the kingdom of men.