August 13, 2023
Revised Common Lectionary
Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28 or 1 Kings 19:9-18
Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b or Psalm 85:8-13
Romans 10:5-15
Matthew 14:22-33
Lectionary for Mass (RC)
1 Kings 19:9a, 11-13a
Psalm 85:9, 10, 11-12, 13-14 (8)
Romans 9:1-5
Matthew 14:22-33
You’ve probably heard the story about the mountain climber whose rope gave way but who was fortunate to grab onto a branch as he began to fall. The climber decided to pray: “God, if you’re there, please help me.” He then heard a voice saying, “I’m here. Do you trust me?” “Oh, yes, God, I trust you,” the climber responded. “I can save you. Just let go of the branch,” said the voice. The climber paused for a moment, then called out, “Is there anybody else up there?”
The Lectionary today presents two stories of people who, much like the mountain climber, were in trouble. In the Hebrew Scripture reading from the First Book of Kings, Elijah—revered by later generations as the greatest of all prophets—is on the run. He has successfully defeated the prophets of the idol Baal and in so doing has run afoul of the Baal-promoting Queen Jezebel. She has threatened to pursue and kill Elijah in retaliation for the deaths of those prophets.
When we meet the prophet today, he is at Mount Horeb—the same mountain on which Moses had met God. He is told to wait at the entrance of the cave where God will come to meet him. To his surprise, God is not in the wind or the earthquake or the fire, but in “a sound of sheer silence” (1 Kgs 19:12). Even though the divine presence has been made known, Elijah, like the mountain climber, isn’t quite prepared for the kind of help that God has in mind.
In today’s Gospel reading, the disciples are also experiencing difficulties—their boat is being battered by the heavy winds of a nighttime storm. In their distress they fail to recognize Jesus walking toward them on the water. Thinking he is a ghost, they are utterly terrified.
Rather than cry out for help, Peter speaks for the entire group and asks for some assurance that this water-walking figure is indeed Jesus: “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water” (Mt 14:28). At Jesus’ invitation, Peter steps out in faith and begins to walk toward Jesus on the water. As he starts paying more attention to the wind than to Jesus, however, Peter begins to sink into the water. It’s at that moment that he cries for help: “Lord, save me” (Mt 14:30).
Jesus’s words to Peter, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Mt 14:31), are usually interpreted as a rebuke. Yet they might be understood rather as an expression of encouragement: You had just enough faith to step out of that boat, so don’t second guess it! Just a few chapters later in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus would tell his disciples, “[I]f you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move’” (Mt 17:20-21). By stepping out of that boat, Peter demonstrated that he had a little bit of faith but then allowed himself to be distracted by a seeming obstacle.
We all experience tempests in our daily lives and in the world around us. At those moments, can we sense the presence of God, even in the silence or in the tiniest whisper? Can we see Jesus walking toward us and inviting us to step out in faith? Can we keep our eyes on Jesus and not let our fear get the best of us?
Like Peter, all we need is a tiny seed of faith to make that step and face the storm. And, even if we should stumble, we too can cry out, “Lord, save us,” confident that Jesus will extend his hand to raise us up.
A Hymn for Today: “Stand by Me”
The Rev. Charles Albert Tindley was born in Maryland during the era of enslavement but moved to Philadelphia as a young person. Although he never attended college or seminary, he became deeply learned from his extensive reading. He came to be regarded as one of the foremost preachers of Methodism during his years at Bainbridge Methodist Church in Philadelphia, where he became pastor in 1902.
James Abbington, FHS, has described Tindley as a “pastor, orator, poet, writer, theologian, social activist, ‘father of African American Hymnody,’ ‘progenitor of African American gospel music’ and ‘prince of preachers.’” The hymn “Stand by Me,” based in part on the story we hear in today’s Gospel reading, is perhaps his best-known gospel song. Read more here. Listen here.
When the storms of life are raging,
Stand by me,
When the storms of life are raging,
Stand by me,
When the world is tossing me
Like a ship upon the sea;
Thou who rulest wind and water,
Stand by me.
In the midst of tribulation,
Stand by me,
In the midst of tribulation,
Stand by me,
When the hosts of hell assail,
And my strength begins to fail,
Thou who never lost a battle,
Stand by me.
In the midst of faults and failiures,
Stand by me.
In the midst of faults and failure,
Stand by me,
When I do the best I can,
And my friends misunderstand,
Thou who knowest all about me,
Stand by me.
In the midst of persecution,
Stand by me,
In the midst of persecution,
Stand by me,
When my foes in war array
Undertake to stop my way,
Thou who saved Paul and Silas,
Stand by me.
When I’m growing old and feeble,
Stand by me,
When I’m growing old and feeble,
Stand by me,
When my life becomes a burden,
And I’m nearing chilly Jordan,
O Thou “Lily of the Valley,”
Stand by me.
Text: Charles A. Tindley, 1851-1933
Tune: STAND BY ME, Charles A. Tindley
Image Credit: Christ Walks on Water, 20th cent., Christ Cathedral, Garden Grove, California
“Word and Song: A Lectionary Reflection” is written by the Executive Director of The Hymn Society, Rev. Dr. Mike McMahon. For his full bio, click here and scroll down to the “staff” section.
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