NINETEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - 2020

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

My soul is waiting for the Lord,
I count on his word. PS 130:5

1 KINGS 19:9, 11-13

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

We often have our own ideas as to how God should manifest Himself. We expect Him to do something spectacular, earth-shaking, to send bolts of lightning, split the mountains but more often than not God comes to us in unexpected ways, to a Virgin in an obscure village in Nazareth, in a stable in Bethlehem, on the Cross, an empty tomb.

No matter how quietly our God comes, as You continue to do, hidden in Bread, we veil our faces, fall on our knees, and tremble with awe as we worship and adore You.  

PSALM 85:9-14

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

The world continually speaks of peace, conferences are held, documents are signed, hands are shaken, much is said about it, and many promises are made, and yet, our world continues to be filled with war, violence, hate, terror, and division. 

False prophets galore have come after You bringing even more division and hate. You are the only One who has said, 'Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives.' It is through You alone do we receive true peace even in the midst of terror, violence, hate, division, and fear.

The peace You alone can give, is a peace that is rejected by those who are motivated by lust for power and greed. But the genuine peacemaker is counted among the children of God, and the meek will inherit the earth. It is not by might nor by power but by Your Holy Spirit O Lord, the Spirit of gentleness, kindness, and love that the world will be shaken, the mountains moved, and You will walk with us, dwell in us and we will yield fruit that is pleasing to God.  

True justice and peace were won on the Cross, the instrument of scandal and shame on which hung the Savior of the world - You gave up Your life in order that we might enter in Your peace, the peace that the world cannot give. 

ROMANS 9:1-5

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

A genuine disciple is one who like You, is prepared to die, in order that another may live. St. Paul, in his letter to the Romans, says that he would willingly suffer any amount of pain and is even prepared to be cut off and separated from You if his fellow Jewish brothers and sisters would receive You and be saved. This is true love. This is the love that You have for us. This is the Father's love for us that is revealed by You on the Cross. You died that we may live and St. Paul is also prepared to receive the worst kind of death - separation from You, in order that his fellow Jews may receive the Good News, believe and be saved.

Our Jewish brothers and sisters are our older brothers and sisters for it was they whom God chose as a people for Himself, and through them, God gave You to the world. You made a Covenant with them and that Covenant is an eternal Covenant. At. St. Paul says, They are descended from the patriarchs and from their flesh and blood came Christ who is above all, God forever blessed! Amen. We believe, Beloved, that one day, there will be but one flock and one Shepherd. You have won the victory.

MATTHEW 14:22-33

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

The world is enamored with fame, celebrity status, power, wealth, influence, to be acclaimed and feted, but You show us another way, a better way, a way more pleasing to God. It is the way of humility, of littleness, of possessing a childlike spirit of innocence, purity, and simplicity.

After the spectacular miracle of the multiplication of the five barley loaves and two fish feeding thousands, You did not seek the adulation of the crowd but wanted to rest in Your Father in prayer. It is a good lesson for us too. When we have done well in some work, it is good to retire alone with You and rest in You.

Today's Gospel teaches us that so long as we keep our gaze on You we are safe. As soon as we allow the turbulence of life to distract us and we allow our burdens to overwhelm us, like Peter we will be filled with fear and begin to sink. In moments like this let us like him cry out, ‘Lord! Save me!’ And instantly You will put out Your hand and save us.

As soon as You got into the boat the wind dropped and it was calm once again. The stupified disciples bowed before You and said, ‘Truly, you are the Son of God.’ Overcome with awe they made a proclamation of truth that they would fully understand only after Your Resurrection.