tommyk's blog

Careful What You Reach For

Readings for Sunday August 7th, 2011                                           

This Sunday’s Gospel passage picks up after last week’s miraculous feeding of approximately 20,000 people.  Obviously, this miracle had a big impact on the people, so Jesus found Himself surrounded by the crowds.  In the midst of this immense popularity, and incredible demands on His time, Jesus takes time to get away alone by Himself to pray to His heavenly Father.  This is no small side-story in this reading, for it is an important lesson to those of us who are busier than we should be: There is never an excuse to put prayer on the back-burner.  Intimacy with our heavenly Father is our life-line to a happy existence.  While Jesus is in prayer, the disciples find themselves on a boat in a rough storm.  This event becomes an opportunity for Jesus to reveal more of His identity to the disciples.  Of course, they all knew Jesus was a great guy, yet over the period of His three-year ministry, Jesus slowly unveiled to them that He was more than just a nice guy: He is the Second Person of the Trinity.  The disciples see Jesus walk to them on the water.  This is another reference to the supernatural identity of Jesus.  He wasn’t using the latest Hollywood special effects, but was rather doing something that no one could do on their own power.  To prove that this was supernatural, St. Peter begins to walk on the water as well – only to find himself sinking.  (How many times in our lives do we find ourselves ‘sinking’ after we take our eyes off Jesus?) St. Peter did not have the power on his own to go beyond nature, yet our Gospel passage reinforces to us Jesus’ power over everything, including nature.  The question for all of us is: Are we willing to trust in Him with even the little areas in our lives?  Are we willing to allow Him to bring good to us, even if that means we go through difficult times?  So often we don’t trust that Jesus will bring true good to us.  We often think that we can handle it on our own, yet like St. Peter, we start to sink.  We need to proclaim to Jesus with our entire lives that, ‘truly, you are the Son of God’.  May God grant us the grace to trust Jesus in every situation we find ourselves, no matter how difficult the ‘storm’ of life is around us.           Summary of the Gospel from YM Central

 First Reading             1 Kings 19: 9a 11-13a  

  
9a There he came to a cave, where he took shelter. 11Then the LORD said, "Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD; the LORD will be passing by." A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the LORD--but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake--but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake there was fire--but the LORD was not in the fire. After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound. 13a When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance of the cave. 

What impresses you most about this story?

• God's incredible power
• God's love and patience
• that a man of God like Elijah could feel such pain and rejection

 Why do you think Elijah ran away?

•  He wasn't ready for another fight.
• Jezebel was furious about what he did.
• Ahab's troops outnumbered his.

Why do you suppose Elijah prayed to die?

• He was afraid
• He was depressed
• He was totally drained
• He was full of self pity
• He felt all alone and unsupported

What do you think Elijah needed the most?

• Physical replenishment
• some peace and quiet
• a spiritual retreat
• an attitude adjustment
• some answers about life
• fellowship with other believers
• a fresh vision of God

 What do think god was saying to Elijah through the tiny whisper and the message of verses 15-18?

• "Your ministry is far from over."
• "Trust me."
• "Stop moping and get moving."
• "You're not alone." 

 When you have felt like you couldn't go any further in life? What got you so discouraged? What got you going again?

What has been discouraging in your life lately?  

When you feel drained by the pressures or injustices of life, what do you do?  Is there any action you can take to find God? Or do you have to wait for God to call you out of your "cave"?

How is God trying to communicate to you right now? What's the message of the "tiny whisper"?

 Second Reading                                 Romans 9: 1-5

 1 I speak the truth in Christ, I do not lie; my conscience joins with the holy Spirit in bearing me witness 2 that I have great sorrow and constant anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and separated from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kin according to the flesh. 4 They are Israelites; theirs the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; 5 theirs the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, is the Messiah. God who is over all be blessed forever. Amen.

How should each of the benefits Paul mentions in verses 4-5 have drawn the Jewish people to Christ?

 How deeply do you hurt for unbelievers?  As much as Paul?

 If you were God would you choose "you" to be part of your plan for the universe? 

Gospel Reading-   Matthew 14: 22-33 

 22Then he made the disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone. 24 Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. 25 During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them, walking on the sea. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. "It is a ghost," they said, and they cried out in fear. 27 At once (Jesus) spoke to them, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid." 28 Peter said to him in reply, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." 29 He said, "Come." Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw how (strong) the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" 31 Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" 32 After they got into the boat, the wind died down. 33  Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, "Truly, you are the Son of God."

1. Describe the disciples’ reaction to Jesus walking on the water.  Why do you think they were so afraid?  Describe Peter’s reaction.  Why didn’t Jesus just reveal His full divinity to the disciples all at once – why does He show a little bit over time?

2. Do you ever doubt that Jesus is the Son of God, and that He loves you and has control of your life?  What has He done to show you that He is in control?  Describe a real-life situation.

3. What excuses do you give for not spending quality time in prayer?  Why do you give those excuses?

4. Of all your adventures in life, which was the most daring? Explain?

5. Why do you think Jesus wanted to pray alone? 

6. What do Peter's actions reveal about his personality?

7. Why do you think Peter ask Jesus to call to him?

8. When did Peter begin to sink? Why then and not earlier?

9. Would you be more likely to stay in the boat or step out of it? Why? 

10. What Dreams do you have for the future? What risk are involved?

Enjoy the readings, please pass them on…..