August 13, 2023, 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time-A
1 Kings 19:9, 11-13
Psalm 85
Romans 9:1-5
Matthew 14:22-23
After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound. 1 Kings 19:12
Lord, your prophet Elijah was on the run because the Queen wanted him dead. He fled to the desert to escape her clutches. On the mountain he looked for you in rock-crushing wind, an earthquake and fire—all the usual ways you spoke in the past. But you came to Elijah in an unexpected way—a tiny whisper. That, Lord, was a good way to get his attention. We are surrounded by noise and distractions. Our minds are swamped with sights and sounds that try to grab our attention. Peace and quiet are sometimes hard to come by. Lord, how few minutes each day do I quiet myself enough for you to speak to me? I believe you really want to whisper words of comfort, encouragement, and love. I believe you want to guide me, strengthen me, and warn me of danger. You want me to know how happy you are with my small efforts and, yes, even my weak faith. Today, Lord, I turn off all the noise, put away my phone and close out all distractions to just sit with you. So, speak Lord, your servant is listening. Amen.