Walking with Jesus: 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time A

For Sunday, August 9, 2026

1 Kings 19:9, 11-13; Romans 9:1-5; Matthew 14:22-33


We may have said in passing, “It must have been wonderful living in the time of Jesus … just seeing Him, watching Him and those amazing miracles, listening to Him preach. I’m sure it would have been much easier to believe in Him and follow what He was doing.” A wonderful reflection and exercise is to put ourselves in the Scripture scene and imagine being right there, looking at the crowds and their reaction to Jesus — and seeing in our imagination the “freedom” side — let it loose — why not! Today’s three scripture examples can lead us to a deeper love and understanding of how the people were led into a true experience of God instead of a made-up fairy tale.

We begin with the passage from Kings that shows how the people learn and progress in their knowledge and belief of who God is and what God is like. Elijah is told that he will encounter God. We wonder: What would that be like? Yet we have encountered God’s beauty and love in so many ways — like in the birth of a child, so beautiful and precious. The parents are amazed, astonished, awestruck — at a loss for words to describe the precious little one. The bottom line is, it’s God’s love and plan that this happens. Similarly, we see so many wonders in relationships and nature that show us that God’s universe is not an accident.

In the Israelite tradition, majestic appearances occur on mountains which are considered sacred places: Horeb, Sinai, Transfiguration Mountain. Many are accompanied by spectacular phenomena like piercing thunder, brilliant lightning, and thick clouds that engulf entire mountains as they shake violently. The Canaanites believe their own weather god, Baal, is manifested in precisely the same way as he is the god of the storm. Scripture asserts that this is God and not the god of the Canaanites. Today Elijah is called out of the cave where he's hiding and told, “Go outside and stand on the mountain before the Lord, the Lord will be passing by.” [1 Kings 19:11] He witnesses the wind, earthquake and fire, but does not experience God until he hears a faint, whispering voice — and he knows God is present. Ask a parent to recall the birth of their child and they respond with a similar reaction — amazement, beauty; a precious moment that no words can describe adequately. That’s God. They know it. Total beauty, total love.

It is easy to be awed by the spectacular and overlook the ordinary — yet the path of our lives is full of that “faint, whispering voice” of God which we can hear ... if we are attuned to it!

Paul is Jewish through and through, and he recognizes the uniqueness of the Jewish people. He has rejected Jesus and persecuted the apostles and followers, yet he watches as they overtly deny Jesus and put Him to death. Peter takes up the apostolate of the Jewish people, and Paul, after his conversion, works tirelessly with the Gentiles. Rather than a narrow vision of the Jews, our theology — the scriptures, the symbolized world — shapes our liturgies, social ethics and morality, giving us an exalted view of the Jews as “relatives” who share with us a common heritage. We continue to learn so much — we must be readers and absorbers of Scripture, which tells us of God who is crazy in love with each of us — now!

Matthew shares how Jesus leaves the apostles after the miracle of feeding the five thousand in a deserted place, climbing a mountain to pray. Meanwhile the apostles set out in a boat as a storm brews on the Sea of Galilee, which is known for sudden storms. Many times I’ve experienced the suddenness and fierceness of storms on Oneida Lake in central New York: My family still talks about a particularly violent one when we were on vacation with my mom, my four siblings and their 14 children. It was horrible. Now on the fourth watch, between 3 and 6 a.m., the apostles see Jesus walking on the water toward them. This is a miracle and they know it. Is it Jesus? Peter asks His permission to come out; Jesus does and Peter is frightened and begins to sink. (It has the makings of a humorous scene because Peter can’t swim.) Peter begs Jesus to save him, and Jesus does. “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” [Matthew 14:31] That's a phrase as true for us as it is for Peter. So often in these stories, the faith of the disciples is tested. Today it’s their fear and inability to recognize Jesus, and Peter’s panic shows the frailty of his faith. Lord, you are always present and loving — help me to come to you in faith and love!

So I reflect on:

• When I’m anxious and fearful, I bargain. Lord, show me a sign ... and I will.
• Jesus, I trust You … Jesus, be with me … and be still … listen … and love!

Sacred Space 2026 states:

“Sometimes, if our plans don’t work out the way we expected, we get upset and shut up shop. Not so with Jesus. Far from letting the change of plans get the better of Him, He canted His timetable and started to take care of the disciples’ wants. The needs of — and His concern for — His congregation came first. You are there for us always, Lord, and we place our trust in You.”