+ 9 August AD 2020 +

Reflection for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

I love this song: “with my savior eve near to guide me, I am safe whatever may betide me, from the storms and tempest he will hide me, in the hollow of his hands.” The words of this song reverberate in all the readings of today. In the First Reading, we find Elijah, who after defeating and instigating the total wipe out of the 450 false prophets of Baal received a telegram from Jezebel, the evil queen. The telegram was straight and simple: by this time tomorrow you will be dead (I Kings 19:2)! Although Elijah was a fearless man of God, he knew that Jezebel’s threats were no empty threats. In no time, adrenaline rushed down Elijah’s blood stream, triggering a flight mode response. Soon, he was half way into the desert, not even looking back. For Elijah this was a long and lonely trek. But the question is, was Elijah really alone in this? Elijah would realize eventually that he was not alone. No sooner had he arrived the mountain of God - Horeb, than the Lord appeared to him. In the midst of the threat, inner turmoil, seeming helplessness and hopelessness that Elijah felt, the Lord was right there with him.

The Gospel is even more fascinating. The Apostles still basking in the euphoria of the soup kitchen that attracted over 5000 persons as we read last Sunday, had just boarded their boat, probably carrying with them the 12 baskets of left overs they had collected. They had just started paddling when, out of nowhere, a tumultuous wind emerged from the depth of the sea, tossing them up and down and sending great fear down their spines! As if that was not enough, as they looked around, already soaked in panic, they saw a ghost-like creature coming straight at them! They were scared to their marrows! This was a double calamity they thought. However, soon, they would hear those comforting words, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” What really fascinates me about this passage is that even before the Apostles cried for help, Jesus already knew they were in trouble and began to gravitate towards them to take charge of the situation!

My dear Friend, I do not know what your situation is. I do not know the storms you might be passing through right now. But you can be sure of this: there is someone who knows. Yes, Jesus knows every part of your story and He does not only know, He cares. Therefore, be strong, do not panic, reach out to the Lord like Peter did, and He will surely save you. I will leave you with this powerful message from the prophet Isaiah: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned…” Isaiah 43:1-2

    Fr. Lazarus Onuh