Listen to the whispers of God

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, August 13, 2023

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Listen to the whispers of God

Go outside and stand on the mountain. The Lord will be passing by.

We sit sometimes and wait for satellites to fly by in the night, or even meteors. We have advance notice, as did Elijah this time. But his wait was for the Lord, what a wait that would be! More exciting than stars and meteors and satellites, of course. Because the Lord will speak, not just go by passively.

A strong and heavy wind crushing rocks, 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 a fire. But the Lord was not in the fire.

Where is the Lord? Is he not coming? But he said he would be passing by. Did I take a nap and miss him? Is he angry with me?

I think I will believe God when he tells me he’ll be coming.

So everything else I think goes out the window, and I will just wait … and see.

After the fire, Elijah heard a still small voice, a gentle whisper, mostly and nearly silent. Elijah hid his face in his cloak and stood at the entrance of the cave.

Ah! Out of the silence, in the hurricane’s eye, so slight it might be nothing. But Elijah knew, probably from experience, that this was how God spoke and showed himself.

I will hear what God proclaims, for he proclaims peace. Near indeed is his salvation for those who fear and respect him, this glory dwelling in our land.

Elijah set a strong example for those who came after him of listening in patience for “almost nothing.” But other impetuous, less mature followers of God, forgot.

After feeding thousands with a few loaves and fish, Jesus made the disciples get into a boat and precede him to the other side. Then he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.

Doesn’t this sound Elijah-like?

When it was evening Jesus was there alone.

A storm had come upon his disciples. There is a great deal of drama in the boat.

During the fourth watch of the night, in the middle of a storm, Jesus came toward them walking on the water.

Near the end of season 3 of The Chosen, Peter becomes resentful and angry about how Jesus chooses to use the power of God in other peoples’ lives, but not his. His surging emotions come to a head on the water, so long his home away from home, as the storm screams and Jesus comes in his own calm way, walking on the water. Peter’s whole life is being raked over a ragged edge. Perhaps in his haze of anger he allows this to happen. At any rate  God does not rescue him from his turmoil.

Until.

Rembrandt, “Christ in the Storm on the Lake of Galilee,” 1633

 

Out of the boat by Steve Garnaas-Holmes

            “Boss, if it is you,

           command me to come to you on the water.”

                           —Matthew 14.28

 

You know you’re following the real Jesus,

not something made up,

if he calls you so strongly

that it’s actually you who’s doing the calling,

calling you out of where you are,

out of what’s familiar,

out of your safe place,

out of your religion.

All the way out,

with no wooden doctrine to steady you,

no religious flotation device.

No safety from ambiguity or mystery or doubt,

no protection from the impossible,

no certainty, just trust.

Just Jesus.

Just love that’s steady, untroubled,

even amid thrashing nightmares.

So you go.

 

Once you’ve been there

the boat is never the same.

Nor are you.

 

Passing by lepers,

you hear the voice again.

What is Steve the Preacher-Poet talking about when he writes, “If it’s actually you who are doing the calling?” Intriguing and confusing, I wonder if Steve recalls his own words with God. The silence Elijah “heard” must have felt very personal and internal. Is God passing by or is he inside me? Same question for Peter. Is it really you? Can anybody else hear what you are saying to me?

In just that moment when he stepped out of the boat, Peter knew he was following the real Jesus. And then forgot again, in an instant, sinking.

Why did you doubt?

Jesus loved Peter beyond how his wife loved him or his mother or anyone. And Peter knew it. And then he did not know it.

Kindness and truth shall meet. Justice and peace shall kiss. Truth shall spring out of the earth.

And then Peter knew it once again.

(1 Kings 19, Psalm 85, Romans 9, Psalm 130, Matthew 14)

(posted at www.davesandel.net)

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