08/08/2026
There is something interesting
about tomorrow’s readings. This is simply the fact that all the
three great figures and personalities (Elijah, Paul, and Peter)
we encountered in today’s readings were in one way or the
other embattled. As such, their peace was threatened. First,
Elijah was fearful and running away from Ahab and his
wicked wife Jezebel, who wanted him dead at all cost.
Second, Paul was ravaged by sorrow and anguish due to the
unbelief of his “fellow brothers of Israel.” This was a great
burden that threatened his peace of mind. Third, Peter was
sinking right in front of Jesus due to fear, his lack of faith
and courage. This is the dilemma of our lives. In one way or
the other, our peace is threatened.
1 Kings 19: 9; 11-13. In this passage, we find the great
prophet, Elijah, in deep trouble. The evil queen, Jezebel, the
wife of King Ahab, who ruled the Northern Kingdom of
Israel during the ninth century BC was very angry with
Prophet Elijah. Under her malign influence, the weak King
had introduced pagan customs and rituals into Israel,
building pagan shrines and opening his palaces to a horde of
false prophets and cronies of his wife. Elijah confronted
these charlatans, shamed them publicly, and had them
slaughtered. Now, Jezebel wants him dead. Frustrated,
despondent, and on the verge of despair, Elijah retreats to the
wilderness, taking refuge in a cave. His spirits are so low that he
wants to die. He prays: "O Lord, I have had enough. Take my
life; I am no better than my ancestors’ (1 Kgs 19:4).
However, in the cave near Mount Horeb, he experiences the
presence of the Lord in ‘a gentle breeze’ (1 Kgs 19:12) and,
comforted by this experience, he finds the strength and self-confidence to continue his prophetic mission.
Romans 9:1-5 Paul expresses his grief for his people (fellow
Jews). This was because they rejected the good news. His
sadness and grief were so great that he lamented: “I will
willingly be condemned, if it could help my brothers.” In
order words, he was not at peace because of their situation.
Therefore, Paul teaches us that we must not always think
about ourselves alone. Rather, we should equally be
concerned about the welfare, salvation, and peace of others.
It is through this that we derive our own inner peace. When
others are not saved, and our peace is guaranteed.
Matthew 14:22-33 Jesus walks on water, and the disciples
acknowledge him as the Son of God. This episode occurred
during an unexpected storm on the Sea of Galilee in the early
morning hours. Jesus calls to the disciples and calms their
fears. He is not a ghost. As Jesus approached the apostles,
miraculously walking on water, he allayed their fears by
telling them, “It is I.” The impulsive Peter seeks proof that
the person is indeed Jesus. He asks Jesus to call him out onto
the water, and Jesus grants this request. Peter’s fear and
doubt overtake him. However, once he is walking on the water. Jesus reaches out to Peter and saves him.
When Jesus and Peter enter the boat, Matthew
reports that the wind ceases, and the disciples
confess that Jesus is the Son of God. The Gospel
episode also explains how Peter lost his trusting
Faith in Jesus for a few seconds failed his attempt
to walk on water, but was rescued when he called on
Jesus for help. This passage assures us that Jesus
also stretches out his hand to save us with those
words that must have been spoken with affection:
“O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
REFLECTION: Confidence is the word we need to
take into our hearts and souls today. Confidence
means, “to believe with”. We can not have
confidence when we’re isolated and all alone. We
cannot have confidence all by ourselves. No, we can
only have confidence when there’s an Other near us,
the Other that is God. And that’s the point of today’s
readings. One can find confidence, even in the worst
of storms, even in the most chaotic of times. We can
go through the worst that life can throw at us if only
we keep up our contact with God. No prayer? No
confidence. Stop coming to Mass? No confidence.
Not sharing in the life of the Church, in the Body of
Christ? No confidence. Soon, we will take our eyes
off Jesus, and just like Peter, we will sink. Soon we
will only be able to hear the screaming wind, the
awful noise, and the deafening roar of the storms
and winds in our world that shake the very
foundations of our life. And without the voice of
God and the eyes of Jesus to hold ussteady, we, like
Peter will either be blown away or drown. Is our life
getting out of control? Is our faith slipping away
from us? If so, here’s what we do. Find a place of
solitude and silence. Go to the room, shut the door
and gather around as much silence and solitude as
one possibly can. Then kneel by the bedside and in
that silence and in that solitude say: “Speak, Lord,
for your servant is listening.” If we do that, we will
be in the same position as Elijah was. Look into the
eyes of Jesus, we will be in the same position that
Peter was. Never forget, after all was said and done,
God restored Elijah in power and eventually swept
him up into heaven. God in Christ saved Peter, saved
him even from himself. And God will do no less for
us, if and only if we give our confidence to Christ
and remain faithful to our Father in Him. As
Christians, we are not meant to be helpless victims
when storms threaten to destroy us. We, too, are
called to be in close communion of prayer with the
Father, so that with Christ’s courage and love, we can
confront the powers of destruction in our world.
Thank you, our Lord, Jesus Christ
