Please read the commentary before the homily.
Last week, Matthew told how Jesus had multiplied the loaves and fishes to feed the five thousand. Then he had gone up the mountain to pray and his disciples had left by boat to the other side.
The story continues. A terrific storm has risen; where is the Lord when we need him? Elijah came to a cave, wanting to see the Lord. Heavy winds, crashing rocks, earthquakes, and fire could not reveal the presence of the Lord. Elijah found him only in the tiny whispering sound.
Moses also wanted to see the face of God. The Lord put him into a cave and allowed Moses to see no more than his back side. Moses had to be content with no more than a glimpse of God, same as with Elijah.
We readily experience God’s presence in the Eucharist, just as the disciples had had experienced God’s prsent on the mountain of the multiplication of the loaves. Afterwards, however, when are in our boats or experience some hardship, difficulty, opposition, or negativity we get frightened and wonder where God has disappeared. To our impassioned entreaties, Jesus says, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”
That statemment contains the name God gave Moses at the Burning Bush. Jesus’ “it is I” means “I am who I am”. Just as the Great “I AM” sent Moses, so Jesus, the Son of the Great I AM, manifested himself to the disciples in the boat, as God.
I hope you are experiencing God’s presence in this Eucharist. I also hope that you likewise experience God’s presence when you are facing the storms of life in your boats.
When we cry out in terror and fright, the Lord is answering us, “Take courage, I am who I am; do not be afraid.” The Lord is with us, as he was with Moses during the Exodus, as he was with Elijah in the tiny whispering sound, and as he was with the disciples on the boat in the storm. The same Lord is with us now as he has been with our ancestors in their difficulties.
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