August 7, 2011

Readings for The Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: 1 Kgs 19:9a, 11-13a; Rom 9:1-5; Mt 14:22-33

After reflecting on the scriptures for this Sunday before I went to sleep, I woke up singing a song that back in the 70's put Mary Star of the Sea and San Pedro on the Liturgical Music Map, "Walk Across the Water" by Ron Griffen. While the refrain calls for Jesus to: "Walk across the water, Lord. Walk across the sea... ", the third verse follows: "I once was a cripple man, Lord. Was blind and could not see. I once was a dead man, Lord. I wanted to be free...But now you've let me walk, Lord. Now you've let me see. Now I'm not afraid of death, Lord. Your death set me free." Those of you who attended the "Folk Masses" in the seventies I am sure remember this song very well.

The relevance of Jesus walking across the water and healing miracles of Jesus may be obvious to us today, but as we see in today's Gospel, they were totally obscure to the disciples who remained in their confusion. Our Catholic Christian faith could almost be summed in this story. Jesus has just dismissed the people after feeding them and forced the disciples on the boat while he ascends the mountain to pray. The disciples, in the midst of the storm, are very much like us in the midst of the struggles and drama of daily life that we believe are going to overwhelm us. We often feel like we are alone and that the waves are going to overcome us. Jesus, however, is never far away. On the mountain He is in the presence of His Father and thus at our side. Jesus descends the mountain, walks across the water and comes to us. It is Jesus who entered the world and became flesh for us. Jesus crosses the waters of life to bring us peace through the sacramental life of the Church.

Today's first reading finds the great prophet Elijah as confused as the disciples. After his great moment of triumph; when God helped him defeat the pagan priest of Baal, Elijah flees in fear from the powerful evil queen, Jezebel. He is discouraged to the point of contemplating taking his own life, but the Lord assures him that He will come to him. But God does not appear to Elijah in a mighty sign like he was initially looking for just as God does not often bash us on the head so that we can believe. God was not in the heavy wind, the earthquake or the fire, but Elijah heardthe voice of God in a tiny whispering sound.

What more does God have to do for us to believe? Why do we persist in our fear and unbelief? When Jesus approaches the disciples he says, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid." In Greek, "it is I" is the same as "I AM" or "Yahweh", the name of God. Peter who seeks to have faith is able to walk across the water himself until he takes his eyes off of Jesus and becomes afraid. Even then, when Peter is sinking in the water and calling out to the Lord, Jesus will stretch out His hand and save him.

At Mary Star of the Sea we have that powerful stained glass window always looking down on us and gracing the front page of today's bulletin. Jesus is there, always in the boat of life with us and when we are weak and feel like the storm of life will overwhelm us; His loving presence will calm our waters.

As you read this pastor message, I have crossed the waters muself. Last year I had have the opportunity oth visit the island of Ischia and then the many communities of origin of our parishioners from Sicily. Now I will be in Croatia visiting Zagreb, Split, Vis, Kimiza, Dubrovnik, Medugorje, Zadar and celebrating the Feast of the Assumption in Marija Bistrica. This will be a real pilgrimage where I will be constantly praying for all of you at the different religious shrines I will be visiting. Hopefully after visiting the places of origin of a great number of our parishioners I will be a better servant to the people of San Pedro. Please keep all of us on this pilgrimage in your prayers.

• I am disappointed I will not be at Mary Star of the Sea parish for the celebration of the Assumption of Mary on Monday August 15. Bishop Joseph Sartoris will be celebrating a special mass at 6:00 P.M. followed by a Croatian dinner in the Parish Auditorium. All of our Croatian communities will be united at this Mass, Dinner and special celebration of Our Lady, the Velike Gospel. I will be with you in prayers and I pray that the whole parish will come out for the historic moment.
• I am personally very excited about the new ministry that we are beginning, our new Stella Maris Bookstore. I know that many will say that we are foolish openning up a book store and religious goods store when Borders Bookstore just went bankrupt and other religious goods stores have closed. Yet, I strongly believe that it will be very good for our community to have a place where we can seek spiritual nourishment through books , CDs and Videos and buy quality rosaries, statues and other items to nourish our Catholic identity. Again, many thanks to all who have worked so hard to put this bookstore together and for those who have given generously to this project of spiritually nurturing our community.

God Bless,

Rev. John F. Provenza

Pastor