August 09, 2020
19th Sunday Ordinary
Ever caught in a storm? A blizzard in WNY or a hurricane in Florida? During the summer months, especially in August, the heat seems to create the right atmospheric mix of uplift of air currents and moisture for the making of thunderstorms. This is true on the Sea of Galilee. Ashore, after feeding the multitude, Jesus dismisses the crowd and walks alone to a quiet mountain place (like Elijah) for solitary prayer. He sends his disciples ahead in the boat. The boat is tossed about by the waves and a strong wind. During the fourth watch, darkness before dawn, Jesus walks toward them on the sea. Terrified, the disciples cry out in fear: “It is a ghost.†Jesus speaks to them: “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.†Before calming the wind, Jesus calms the storm in their hearts.
On August 9, 1943, Franz Jagerstatter, an Austrian farmer, was executed by guillotine in Brandenburg-Gorden Prison, Germany. He left behind his wife Franziska and three daughters. When he was conscripted into the German Wehrmacht, he offered to serve as a paramedic, but he refused to take the Hitler Oath. We know something of his state of mind, his soul, through the correspondence, the letters, that he and his wife wrote during his three-month incarceration. At first Franziska suggested that Franz compromise, find a way to save his life but she realized that, for Franz, it was a matter of conviction, being true to his Catholic faith.
Earlier, before Franz had made his fateful decision, he requested to speak with his Bishop regarding the morality of the war and his conscientious objection as a Catholic. But Franz emerged from that conversation saddened that the Bishop was too frightened to address the issues. His parish priest visited him in prison attempting to dissuade Franz.
I cannot imagine the horror of the intense interrogations when Nazi authorities physically and mentally tortured Franz to break his will. Did he hear the “gentle whispering†sound of God’s presence? And in the letters from his wife Franziska did he hear the voice of Jesus: “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.â€
Like St. Peter, recognizing God in Jesus coming to them on the sea, we may assume that we do have the spunk to weather the storm and step out on the water -- only to sink. It is during times of crisis when we are caught in a whirlwind, overwhelmed, when fear darkens our minds and weakens our resolve that we cry out to Jesus: “Lord, save me.†Jesus will come to us walking on the sea stretching out his hand. We are not alone.
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18th Sunday Ordinary A
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