For Sunday,
August 9, 2026, Readings: 1 Kings 19:9-18; Psalm 85:8-13; Romans 10:5-15,
Matthew 14:22-33
At Horeb, the mount of God, Elijah came to a
cave…and spent the night there…[God] said, “Go out and stand on the mountain…for
the Lord is about to pass by…” the
Lord was not in the wind…in the
earthquake…in the fire…and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah
heard it…and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave…Then the Lord said to him, “Go, return on your
way to the wilderness of Damascus…” [1 Kings 19:9-18]
I will listen to what the Lord God is saying, for he is speaking
peace to his faithful people and to those who turn their hearts to him. [Psalm 85:8]
For
there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and
is generous to all who call on him. [Romans 10:12]
But when the disciples saw [Jesus]
walking on the sea, they were terrified...But...Jesus...said, "...it is I,
do not be afraid." Peter [said]..."command me to come to you on the
water." He said, "Come." [Peter] became frightened, and
beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Jesus immediately
reached out his hand and caught [Peter], saying to him, "You of little
faith, why did you doubt?" When they got into the boat, the wind
ceased. [Matthew
14:26a, 28-, 30b, 31-32]
The full story of Elijah has some very
interesting twists and turns. In this small snippet, we find Elijah running for
his life from the threats of the infamous Jezebel, wife of King Ahab which comes a bit earlier in this chapter 19. Then Elijah was directed by an angel to journey 40 days and
nights. At the beginning of our reading for this Sunday, Elijah has arrived at a cave at Mt. Horeb, the mount of God, where God was first revealed to Moses. [Wait a minute: wasn’t it Mt. Sinai where God spoke
to Moses? Well it depends on what you read and who you ask. [See below for a
link to give a bit more, but not necessarily clarifying, information.*] Continuing in this
account, the cave of Elijah is also reputed to be the place where Moses had such
an intense experience of God (a theophany**) that his face shone
so brightly he had to wear a veil when leaving God’s presence. Elijah is then
told to stand out on the mountain as the
Lord is about the pass by. Elijah tells the Lord of his fear for his own life, and
the Lord tells him to go
back to the wilderness of Damascus to the work the Lord has given him to do to anoint
new kings and appoint Elisha as his successor.
The
constancy of God is a continuing theme throughout the Hebrew Scriptures, no
matter the whims and wastes of those the Lord
God loves. The Psalmist reminds us, among other things in this short piece,
to listen to what the Lord
God is saying and truth shall spring up from the earth.
Paul
tells us that God in Jesus is Lord of all, of everyone,
whether Jew or Greek or whatever else you may be ~ this was a shocking idea in
those times, a notion that God doesn't dismiss or exclude those people who
aren't one of us was quite radical ~ no wonder Paul ended up
in prison! Imagine if we felt that way today ~ oh, wait, have you read today’s
news? This concept is seemingly shocking to many who identify themselves as Christian
and yet encourage the violence and irrational hatred which divides
families, friends, neighborhoods, and nations. Yet Paul is adamant that everyone
who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved [Romans 10:13].
Furthermore, we are the ones who are to proclaim the
truth of Christ to all.
Just as
God is Lord of ALL, regardless of
human categorizations of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, status in life,
etc., Jesus calls us, make that requires us, all of us, to get our feet wet in
the realities of life's unpredictable times, tides, and weather; political and
otherwise. There's nothing easy about it ~ just ask Peter as he’s sinking. Praying more regularly to strengthen our faith will help us to speak our faith out loud in words
and actions that bring Christ to others. Jesus bids us Come. We need not be in a crisis in life
and/or in faith to look and move toward Jesus. Whatever you’re doing in any
minute of any/every day, stop, look up, and know that Christ is with you. Before
you sink, build the habit of acknowledging the presence of Christ in ordinary
moments. A quick “hello, Jesus” many times a day is as much a prayer as
anything written in prayer books and for Sunday worship services. And in those
sinking moments of fear and doubt, it will be much easier and quicker to look inward and up for
the hand and heart that is reaching for us. Together we will know and share the
calmer seas of Christ’s Good News.
*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount Horeb
At the bottom of the information on this link, there is a reference to the
sixth century St. Catherine’s Monastery, the oldest inhabited monastery in the
world and it is situated at the foot of Horeb/Sinai. I have stayed there and
climbed up to the summit from the front side facing the monastery, and down the
back side from which a cave can be seen that is, by tradition, reputed to be
Elijah’s Cave where Moses had his theophany. The monks and locals in the
area refer to the mountain in Arabic as Jabal Musa, the mountain of Moses. There
are other Wikipedia articles with a few other places some name as Mt. Sinai.
The truth is no one anywhere knows for certain or when or even it Moses was
there with the Israelites, or if the narratives are the true history of the
events. Some speculate that, if the narrative of the Exodus occurred, they may
have arrived at Mt. Sinai possibly between the 15th and 13th
centuries BC/BCE.
**theophany: an appearance of God/a god,
to a human; while an epiphany is: in the Christian religious context,
the celebration of the Magi’s visit in which they recognize the divine nature
of the Infant Jesus as the Messiah Christ.
LET
US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader: ~ Generous and Merciful God, you guide us through the calm and
chaos of our earthly life when we turn our hearts to you. Amplify our faith,
relieve our fears and doubts, and quicken our determination to answer Christ’s
simple call, “Come.”
Jesus, Lord of All
RESPONSE:
Our Strength and
Salvation
~ Generous and Merciful God, renew us in spirit daily to carry
the message of Christ on our lips and in our hearts to the leaders of this
Community, this Country, and this World for the peace, health, and well-being
of all people everywhere. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
Jesus, Lord of All
Our
Strength and Salvation
~ Generous and Merciful God, soothe the hearts and minds of all
who struggle with serious illness, chronic pain, or depression, and revive the
stamina of those who give them care. We now join our hearts to pray for those
in need… add
your own petitions
Jesus, Lord of All
Our Strength and Salvation
~ Generous and Merciful God, we give You thanks and praise for
the new life of our loved ones in the glorious eternity of heaven. We pray
especially for: add your own petitions
Jesus, Lord of All
Our Strength and Salvation
~ Generous and Merciful God, we pause in this moment to offer
You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and
memorials… add your own petitions
Jesus, Lord of All
Our Strength and Salvation
~ Generous and Merciful God, grant spiritual vitality and an
even keel to all who lead us in your Church through your word and wisdom,
through the calm and perilous waters of this earthly life. We pray especially
for: add
your own petitions
Jesus, Lord of All
Our
Strength and Salvation
The Celebrant adds: Almighty and Ever-Living God, You created us all in
Your image and bid us always to turn to You in each hour of life. Empower us to
step into the depths of our faith, answering your call with courage and
conviction, in tempest and tranquility, for this life and the next. We ask this
through Christ Jesus, our Rock and our Redeemer; and the Holy Spirit, the Breath of our Faith, who together with You, are One God, forever and ever. Amen.
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