Putting all our trust in Jesus

<< Sunday, August 9th, 2020 >>

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time   /   Lectionary: 115

 Id-Dsatax-il Ħadd taż-Żmien ta’ Matul is-Sena

 

Reading 1          1 KINGS 19:9a,11-13a

At the mountain of God, Horeb, Elijah came to a cave where he took shelter. Then the LORD said to him, “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. After the earthquake there was fire— but the LORD was not in the fire. After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound.  When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance of the cave. 

 Qari I        mill-1 Ktieb tas-Slaten 19, 9a.11-13a

F’dak iż-żmien: Elija wasal fil-Ħoreb, il-muntanja tal-Mulej. Hemmhekk daħal fl-għar u għadda l-lejl ġo fih. U Alla qallu: “Oħroġ, u oqgħod fuq il-muntanja quddiem il-Mulej”. U ara, il-Mulej għadda. Riħ qawwi, b’saħħa li jofroq il-muntanji u jfarrak il-blat, għadda quddiem il-Mulej; imma l-Mulej ma kienx f’dan ir-riħ. U wara dan ir-riħ theżhżet l-art imma l-Mulej ma kienx f’din it-theżhiża. U wara t-theżhiża kien hemm in-nar, imma l-Mulej ma kienx fin-nar. Wara n-nar inħasset żiffa ħelwa. Elija, kif ħassha, għatta wiċċu bil-mantell, ħareġ barra, u waqaf f’bieb l-għar. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej 

Responsorial Psalm             PSALM 85: 9, 10,11-12, 13-14

I will hear what God proclaims; the LORD — for he proclaims peace. Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him, glory dwelling in our land. R. Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation. 

Kindness and truth shall meet; justice and peace shall kiss. Truth shall spring out of the earth, and justice shall look down from heaven. R. Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.  

The LORD himself will give his benefits; our land shall yield its increase Justice shall walk before him, and prepare the way of his steps. R. Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation. 

Salm Responsorjali         Salm 84 (85), 9ab-10.11-12.13-14

R/. (8): Uri lilna, Mulej, it-tjieba tiegħek  

Ħa nisma’ xi jgħid Alla; il-Mulej is-sliem ixandar, għall-poplu u l-ħbieb tiegħu. Qrib hi tassew is-salvazzjoni tiegħu għal dawk li jibżgħu minnu, biex jgħammar is-sebħ f’artna. R/. 

It-tjieba u l-fedeltà jiltaqgħu, il-ġustizzja u s-sliem jitbewsu. Il-fedeltà mill-art tinbet, u l-ġustizzja mis-sema tixref.  R/. 

Il-Mulej ukoll jagħti l-ġid tiegħu, u artna tagħti l-frott tagħha. Il-ġustizzja quddiemu timxi, u s-sliem fuq il-passi tiegħu.  R/. 

Reading 2          ROMANS 9: 1-5

Brothers and sisters:  I speak the truth in Christ, I do not lie; my conscience joins with the Holy Spirit in bearing me witness that I have great sorrow and constant anguish in my heart.  For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh. They are Israelites; theirs the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; theirs the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen. 

Qari II         mill-Ittra ta’ San Pawl Appostlu lir-Rumani  9, 1-5

Ħuti, 1ngħidilkom is-sewwa fi Kristu, m’iniex nigdeb, tixhidli l-istess kuxjenza tiegħi fl-Ispirtu s-Santu, li jiena mnikket għall-aħħar, u dejjem qalbi maqsuma; nixtieq li kont jiena stess maqtugħ minn Kristu minħabba f’ħuti, nies ġensi skond il-ġisem: l-Iżraelin.  Tagħhom hija l-adozzjoni ta’ wlied Alla u l-glorja, il-pattijiet u l-Liġi, il-liturġija u l-wegħdiet, tagħhom huma l-patrijarki; u kien minnhom li, skond il-ġisem, ħareġ Kristu, li hu fuq kollox, Alla mbierek għal dejjem ta’ dejjem. Amen!  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej 

Gospel          MATTHEW 14: 22-33

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

 Evanġelju          Qari skond San Mattew Mt 14, 22-33

Wara lin-nies kielu u xebgħu, Ġesù minnufih ġiegħel lid-dixxipli jitilgħu fuq id-dgħajsa u jmorru qablu x-xatt l-ieħor, sakemm jibgħat lin-nies. Wara li bagħat lin-nies, tela’ waħdu fuq l-għoljiet biex jitlob. Xħin sar filgħaxija kien għadu hemm fuq, waħdu. Id-dgħajsa kienet diġa’ f’nofs il-baħar titħabat mal-mewġ, għax kellhom ir-riħ kontra tagħhom. Fir-raba’ sahra tal-lejl mar lejn in-naħa tagħhom miexi fuq il-baħar. Huma rawh miexi fuq il-baħar u twerwru. “Dan xi fantażma!”. qalu; u qabdu jgħajtu bil-biża’. Iżda hu minnufih kellimhom u qalilhom: “Agħmlu l-qalb, jien hu, tibżgħu xejn!”. Wieġeb Pietru u qallu: “Mulej, jekk huwa int, ordnali niġi ħdejk fuq l-ilma”. “Ejja”, qallu Ġesù. Pietru niżel mid-dgħajsa, u qabad jimxi fuq l-ilma u jersaq lejn Ġesù. Iżda meta ra li r-riħ kien qawwi, baża’, ħabat jegħreq, u beda jgħajjat u jgħid: “Salvani, Mulej!”. Malajr Ġesù medd idu u qabdu: “Bniedem ta’ fidi żgħira”, qallu, “għaliex iddubitajt?”. Meta mbagħad it-tnejn telgħu fid-dgħajsa, ir-riħ waqaf. Dawk li kienu fid-dgħajsa nxteħtu jqimuh u qalulu: “Tassew, int Bin Alla!”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej    

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Peter Walks on Water

A reflection by Fr. George Smiga 

Jesus’ walking on the water in Matthew 14:22-36 is connected to an earlier episode of the gospel in which Jesus calms a storm (8:18-34). The calming of the storm is not concerned with the conditions of the water but of the cosmos. Throughout the bible the sea often stands as a symbol of the powers of evil in combat with God. Yahweh is shown to be in battle with sea monsters while creating and saving the world (Job 26:12-13). Matthew presents Jesus’ action as a cosmic battle with evil. The Greek word translated “windstorm” in 8:24 really means “earthquake.” Matthew is associating this miracle with the shaking of the foundations of the world. Jesus’ calming of the storm symbolizes his cosmic victory over evil which comes about through his resurrection. 

Jesus’ relationship to his disciples is emphasized in the story. They follow him into the boat, into the struggle with evil (8:23). Their call to the sleeping Jesus echoes the words in Psalm 44:23, “Rouse yourself! Why do you sleep, O Lord? Awake, do not  cast us off forever!” Their words have become a prayer. Matthew intends that his community see themselves in the boat voicing their fears to the risen Lord. We should place ourselves in the boat as well, so that in our struggle with evil we can hear Jesus’ response: “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” 

In Matthew 14:22-36 Jesus walks on the water. As in chapter 8, the sea represents the power of chaos which Jesus combats and will defeat. In Matt 8:23-27 Jesus was asleep in the boat. In this narrative Jesus comes to his disciples across the water. He says, “It is I” (14:27) which reflects the divine name of God from Exod 3:14, “I am he.” Just as God saved Israel from slavery in Egypt, Jesus saves his disciples from harm. 

Matthew draws this scene from Mark 6:45-52. But he enlarges the story by adding an episode about Peter. This is the first of a number of incidents concerning Peter which are only found in Matthew’s gospel. Matthew inserts much of this material into Book Four because the church is the central topic of this book and Peter plays a key role in the church. 

Peter acts as the representative of what belonging to the church means. He knows that he is called to follow Christ. So when he sees Jesus walking on the water, he asks permission to do the same (verse 28). Yet Peter is not a perfect disciple. When he sees the strength of the storm he doubts and begins to sink. Jesus pulls him up and uses Matthew’s gentle rebuke to failing disciples “You of little faith” (14:31). 

Through Peter, Matthew has shown us what it is to be a disciple. We will doubt and will need to be pulled up by Jesus time and again. But we also share in the dignity and power of Jesus. When united to the risen Lord, we too can walk on water.

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