JOYFUL GOSPEL LIVING
August 9, 2026
“I wait for the Lord; my soul waits for His Word.”
Two weeks ago, my husband Jeff and I left on a trip to WV and KY. First, we stopped to visit our grandson at the National Scouting Jamboree in WV. In planning this trip, we visited the National Park Service website to see what new place we could visit in this part of the country. Searching by state, we found the Cumberland Gap National Historic Park in Middleboro, KY.
When we arrived at the Visitor Center, we went to the theater to watch a movie about the history of this area. Both of us were delighted to learn that this was the rugged terrain that Daniel Boone, the frontiersman, had explored and then led settlers through the Cumberland Gap in 1775 to homestead in new locations.
After leaving the Visitor Center, we drove to Pinnacle Overlook, where there was a trail that took us across the state line into VA. When we reached the lookout area, we could see VA, TN, and KY in rugged majesty. As we scanned the panoramic views, we could see caves overlooking deep gorges, surrounded by dense forest.
In this weekend’s first reading, the Prophet Elijah hides in a cave on Mount Horeb after a 40-day journey. He feared for his life after Jezebel threatened to kill him. Perhaps Elijah remembered the same words from Psalm 130 that are in our Gospel acclamation: “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits for His Word.”
After reading this passage, I remembered the caves that we had seen there in the Cumberland Gap, and I found myself wondering what fears those early settlers had as they trailblazed across the treacherous forest paths to find new places for settlement. In separate incidents, Daniel Boone lost two of his young sons to attacks by Native Americans. When settlers took refuge in caves, were they afraid? Did their faith carry them through times of loss and uncertainty?
As Elijah hid in that cave, the LORD told him to go and stand on the mountain because the LORD would be passing by. What did Elijah think when he heard the “strong and heavy wind…rending the mountains and crushing rocks”? As if that kind of wind wasn’t terrifying enough, then there was an earthquake, followed by fire! The LORD was not there. It was only when he heard the tiny whispering sound that Elijah hid his face in his cloak and waited for the LORD.
In the Gospel, St. Matthew tells us that Jesus sent His disciples ahead in a boat while He went up the mountain to pray. After they were a few miles from shore, a frightful storm came up, and they were being tossed around. Again, we can only imagine the fear that they must have felt as the wind relentlessly drove against them. Their terror only increased, though, when they saw Jesus walking on the water towards them, thinking He was a ghost!
Unlike the parables that we have heard recently, this Gospel account is a true story of Jesus and His followers. It is a crucial test of faith. When the situation became difficult and frightening, Jesus came to them and even invited Peter to walk to Him on the water. When Peter did that, he let the fierce wind distract and frighten him again, and he started to sink. When Jesus caught him with His hand, He addressed Peter’s lack of faith and questioned why he doubted. After Jesus and Peter were back in the boat, the terror of the wind subsided.
“Saint Clare Rescuing the Shipwrecked” by Giovanni de Paolo (c. 1445-1460)
Sometimes, we face difficulties and think that we need to control events. In many situations, it is true that we must be prepared for where we are going and what we will be doing. However, there will be times when we are tested and challenged, like Elijah and the disciples, and we will not always have in our own power what it takes to prevail. We may experience fear similar to those we heard about this weekend. This is what John Newton captured in the song “Amazing Grace” (verse 2) when he wrote:
“ ‘twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace my fears relieved;
how precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed!”
There are times in our lives when we are fearful, too. While we were on our trip to KY, a Secular Franciscan friend on Facebook asked for prayers for her brother and his family, who were affected by the forest fires in Spokane, WA. Several thousand residents of that area were evacuated due to immediate fire danger, and many people lost their homes. Due to a change in wind direction, the fire wondrously did not continue its destructive path. Similarly, the images of rampant fires in Spain, France, and Greece drove hundreds of thousands of people to seek safe havens. How would faith sustain people through such uncertainty?
Through faith, we develop a trusting relationship with God that enables us to hope for what we may not be able to see clearly when we are in distress or fear. During those times, we strengthen our awareness of God’s unwavering and merciful presence through prayer. God is there, as He promised Elijah and as Jesus showed His disciples. The responsorial psalm invites us to entreat our loving God confidently:
“Lord, let us see Your kindness…”
Teresa S. Redder, OFS
Saint Katharine Drexel Regional Minister
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