Scripture Readings: 1 Kings 19:9,11-13; Romans 9:1-5; Matthew 14:22-33
The final scene of the Gospel of Matthew is in Galilee, where Jesus sends out his disciples to teach and baptize, with the promise: “Behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” We know that Jesus is still with us always, no matter what difficulties we may face. We may face loneliness or danger, separations or fears. God is always with us. Jesus always says: “Fear not.” With trust in God, let us live each day with confidence in the promise of love that we have received from Jesus: “I am with you always.”
Today’s Scripture readings are filled with the hope that God is always with us. In the Reading from the Book of Kings, Elijah is scared. He seeks safety on Mount Horeb, and it is there that God assures him of His Divine Presence. The circumstances of Elijah’s encounter with God remind me of our experiences here in Japan. First, there is a strong wind like the typhoons that approach us regularly. Then there is an earthquake, another natural event that we are used to here in Japan. Finally, Elijah meets God in a “tiny whispering sound.” In the noise and bustle of Tokyo, we can pray that, like Elijah, we may hear that “tiny whispering sound” in our prayer.
The scene in the Gospel makes us feel the fear that the disciples, and especially Peter, felt out on the lake with a strong wind stirring up the waves and threatening them with drowning. Jesus assures Peter: “It is I.” “Do not fear.” Each of us needs to know about this promise of God’s Presence, of Jesus’s Presence in all the circumstances of our lives.
Pope Leo recommended a classic book by a spiritual writer of several hundred years ago, Brother Lawrence’s The Practice of the Presence of God. Brother Lawrence suggests that we can become aware of God’s Presence by practicing a simple prayer acknowledging God’s constant Presence. We need some common sense, as well. As we make that prayer, we have to be careful not to endanger ourselves or others, for example, when we ride a bicycle on the street or sidewalk, or when a surgeon is operating on a patient. But there are a lot of times when we can offer a prayer to God and simply enjoy the promise of Christ: “I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
David Wessels, S.J.
August 2026