NINETEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR B
August 11, 2024 – 10:30 AM
Saint Cecilia Catholic Community
Deacon Sharon Kay Talley
I Kings 19:4-8 | Psalm 34:2-9
Ephesians 4:30-5:2 | John 6:41-51
+In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, AMEN.
Having faith and trust in God is a central tenet of many religions in the world. For Catholics like us, faith is seen as a belief in the unseen and a reliance on God’s promises. Trust in God is also important in Islam, with the Quran teaching that God is the “Most Trustworthy”. In Hinduism, faith is seen as having complete trust in the divine and surrendering one’s will to God.
Having faith and trust in God can provide comfort and guidance in times of uncertainty and challenge. Believers rely on their faith to navigate difficult situations and find strength in knowing that God has a plan for them. Trust in God can help alleviate anxiety and worry as believers have confidence that God will provide for their needs and help them overcome obstacles.
Faith and trust in God can also lead to a sense of peace and contentment, knowing that one is in alignment with a higher power and working towards a greater purpose. Ultimately, having faith and trust in God is a deeply personal and individual journey.
Speaking from my own experience, five years ago, I was diagnosed with having a five-centimeter mass in the lower lobe of my right lung. It was necessary for it to be biopsied before removal. When I googled my condition, I was alarmed to learn that 99.8% of lung tumors were malignant. I was also assigned a special, what I call “end of life” consultant by Desert Oasis Healthcare. But during this time, my faith and trust in God got me through it, with my tumor turning out to be benign and my surgery to remove it successful… and here I am today! Standing before you as your Deacon!
Our Scripture readings today focus on the importance of faith and trust in God’s providence in our lives.
The Prophet Elijah is the main focus of our first reading from the Book of Kings. The spiritual conflict between Elijah and Jezebel and Ahab began after Israel had gone more than three years without rain as a judgment for their idolatry. Elijah confronted the evil King Ahab and challenged him about the 450 prophets of the false god Baal and the 400 prophets of the false goddess Asherah. When Elijah commanded the people to put the prophets of Baal to death, a miraculous event from heaven occurred: the fire of the Lord fell and the people proclaimed, “The Lord He is God!” showing their trust and support in Elijah’s word. Then Elijah told them to seize the prophets of Baal and execute them.
So when King Ahab relayed this news to his evil wife, Queen Jezebel, she immediately plotted to have Elijah killed, which is where our first reading begins.
Elijah is running for his life after challenging evil Queen Jezebel. Yet despite his fear and uncertainty, Elijah puts his trust in God and follows His guidance, ultimately finding safety and sustenance in the wilderness.
This narrative serves as a powerful reminder to us that even in our darkest hours, we must have faith that God will provide for us and lead us to safety. In a world filled with chaos and despair, it can be easy to lose sight of this truth and succumb to fear and doubt. However, like Elijah, we must stand firm in our trust in God’s providence and allow Him to guide us through life’s trials and tribulations.
A traditional part of baptism is renouncing all the forces of evil. Our second reading from Ephesians invites us to welcome a new life as one of God’s disciples. We must abandon what is false, just as Elijah had the people of Israel do, and welcome truth and faith in God. It is through the Church that truth can be spoken, and we can be at peace. Sometimes, evil ones use the excuse of “speaking the truth” as a cover to manipulate, retaliate, and tear down others. All such behavior is simply a lie masquerading as the truth.
The Holy Spirit calls us to pay attention to the needs of those around us so our lives can become conduits for the grace of God to others. Our words to one another matter. Destructive speech and things that tear down relationships have no place in the church or anywhere else, as they are contrary to the Holy Spirit’s intent not only because they impede our ability to engage in the mission to which God has called us, but because they are a failure to reflect Jesus, who is the Bread of Life.
Jesus speaks to the crowds about the importance of faith in Him as the Bread of Life in our Gospel reading from John. He reminds them that those who believe in Him will never hunger or thirst, as He is the ultimate source of nourishment for our souls. This profound message speaks to the deep longing that exists within every one of us for spiritual fulfillment and reminds us that only through our faith in Jesus can we truly find happiness and peace.
As we reflect on these readings, we are challenged to examine our own lives and consider the ways in which we are placing our trust in God.
Are we seeking fulfillment and satisfaction in temporary pleasures and pursuits, or are we seeking the eternal nourishment that only Jesus can provide?
We are called to deepen our faith and trust in God by our Scripture readings today, even when the world around us seems chaotic and horrifying. But we must look beyond our immediate circumstances and have faith that God has a plan for us, even if we cannot see it yet. Just like Elijah, we must be willing to step out in faith and follow God’s lead through the Holy Spirit’s guidance. We must trust in God that He will provide for us in ways that we cannot even imagine.
So as we go out into the world today, let us carry the message of faith and trust that we have learned today. May we be like Elijah, standing firm in our belief that God will provide for us and lead us to safety, no matter how hard and dismal the path may seem.
And may we always remember that Jesus is the Bread of Life, the ultimate nourishment for our souls, and the only true source of happiness and peace in this life!
AMEN.