St. Mary's Catholic Church of Tomahawk, WI

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

We are in the nineteenth ordinary Sunday of Year A. In the first reading we hear the theophany, where God communicates to the prophet Elijah in a tiny whispering sound. When Elijah heard this, he was commissioned to anoint three individuals. Let us reflect, where, when and how do we wish to listen to the communication of God? Do we listen to His silent, soft and strengthening whisper in our hearts?

In the second reading, St. Paul holds together two seemingly irreconcilable truths. On the one hand, all humankind, under the power of sin and death and thus alienated from God, requires the justification that comes from belief in Jesus Christ. On the other hand, God remains faithful to the promises made to Israel as the salvation promised to Israel includes Gentiles. This is a powerful and enduring promise of God to all peoples.

In the Gospel we hear Jesus comes to His disciples, walking on the water, calming the storm and guiding them to safety. This reveals His divine power and self-identification, with the divine name “I AM”. Peter walking on the water emerges as the major representative for us in both strength and weakness. Do we allow the Lord to calm down any kind of storms that come on our way? Do we hold on to Him in faith always?

Fr. Aloysius Royan Anthony