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Reflection on the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Times

By Don Rampolla

The readings for this Sunday:

1 Kings 19:9a, 11-13a

Romans 9:1-5

Matthew 14:22-33

It’s too easy to assume that it was after jumping that Peter’s faith became weak. But what if Peter’s jump itself indicated weak faith?

Think back to the account of Jesus’ temptation in Chapter 4 of Matthew. “Satan set Him (Jesus) on a pinnacle of the temple and said to Him if you are the Son of God cast yourself down …”. Jesus refused “You shall not tempt the Lord your God”.

Some commentators interpret this passage as indicating that Jesus was refusing to resort to flashy miracles to prove who He was or to increase his following.

Peter on the contrary decided to leap. Could it be that he was still not sure of who Jesus was, and was tempting Jesus --- looking for the kind of flashy miracle that Jesus had refused to work? Of course Jesus does work the miracle of rescuing Peter --- but that’s not what Peter had expected. And despite that miracle Peter’s still weak faith was again manifested after Jesus’ arrest.

So how does this apply to me?

A couple of weeks ago my wife Pat and I were on the peak of Mt. Pisgah (5000 ft) on the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. The view was breathtaking I had such mixed emotions --- on the one hand feeling so insignificant, on the other feeling so fortunate to have a part in this magnificent undertaking we call creation. My response to this second feeling was something like “Whooppee God --- I’m glad to be alive”. I’ve had this whoopee response many times during the last 20 years --- but it comes and goes. There are plenty of days when I’m distraught or distressed by what seems like the “daily grind”, and there’s not much whoopee in my response to life. On days like these I’m sure that my whoopee would be restored (at least for the moment) if I saw a falling Jesus caught in midair by angels, or if I could walk on water at Jesus bidding. So in a way I’m looking for a flashy miracle to give me a boost. But if my faith was strong enough I’d be able to see every moment of my life as a whoopee moment --- the opportunity to act in this creation and to receive and respond to God’s love.

Here’s a passing thought about the enormity and excitement of just the earthly part of creation. How many living organisms --- from the slime molds on up --- are working 24/7 to keep this earth alive?

Regarding flashy miracles recall the reading from last Sunday where Isaiah (55:2) says “why spend …. your wages on what does not satisfy?” A thousand years after Isaiah Augustine says “our hearts are restless until they rest in you”. Jesus knew well that flashy miracles will not satisfy a restless heart for very long. So the challenge posed to me by today’s Gospel is to work and pray for a deepening of faith that will enable me to say each and every day, come what may, “Whooppee God, I’m glad to be alive”.