Good Morning Friends in Christ:
Wow, what incredible readings this past Sunday. And Father Gyves’s homily (St Cecilia’s Boston) brought so many ideas and feelings up in me, I’d like to share some of them with you if I may.
I have always loved King’s description of Ezekiel’s experience of God being a small, quiet, whisper as opposed to loud, thundering, dramatic noise. Ours is a God of silence, of gentle whisper. In order to hear what God wants of us, we must listen carefully, in our own silence, and feel God’s inspiration. This is how I have always experienced God, as an inspiration. That is, when I slow down and listen. How do you experience God?
The Gospel reading has hidden meaning for me too. Peter asks to “walk on water”, but does not have the strength of faith to really do so. What is important in this story is not water, but faith. I see faith as a very delicate thing, easily distracted by worldly things. Easily challenged. It takes effort, work, to maintain the gift of faith in this world. I pray for a faith that breaks through the world, in order to connect with God.
The third idea that comes to me from the readings and the homily is humility. Faith is not possible without deep humility – standing before God in awe and silent deference. Letting go of our need to control. There is very little we control. Gratefully, our lives are in God’s hands.
And finally, as Father Gyves said, action. To have the courage to speak up and act when witnessing injustice. To do what we are inspired by God to do, and not shrink from it in the face of the world’s opposition and pressure to just leave things as they are.
These are not easy things, but they are possible, thankfully, with the grace of God.
Your Brother in Christ,
Peter