Homily Reflection – August 13, 2013
From The Pastor
During in-between times people become anxious and uncomfortable. There is an unconscious ego energy in most humans that holds the normal boundaries of life in a comfortable place. When we lose control of these boundaries we are confronted with uncertainty and the risk of the unknown. We reflected on this some weeks ago as liminal space.
Liminal space stirs an inner awareness in us, sometimes caused by an outer event, which upsets the balance of our personal world. It challenges us to perceive and think in new and creative ways. This is often uncomfortable. It is like going home and all the furniture in the house is in different rooms and completely rearranged. Nothing is broken or of itself out of place, but everything is different and demands a new way of perceiving and moving around.
The experience of Ezekiel the Prophet, and of Peter in the gospel are good examples for us. Ezekiel is an experienced Prophet of God. He has grown weary in his role of speaking for God. His life is being threatened and he flees the violence. It is not in itself a faith crisis. It is weariness and fear. The landscape has changed, and the aging Prophet makes his complaint known.
Ezekiel is experienced in the miraculous power of God. He has personally done many miracles by the power of God. But now, he flees to a cave and waits for the Lord. He experiences theophany; a manifestation of Divine power that reveals the Divine presence. Not the same as a miracle, a theophany is more often a personal encounter of a Divine action that leads to an inner transformation of heart. Ezekiel is unimpressed by the wind smashing rocks, the earthquake, or the fire. Yet, when he perceives a quiet whisper, he retreats into the cave because he knows the Lord is near. He is in a liminal space between fear and divine action. He knows God is present for him. In the subsequent verses, the Lord calms his fear and directs his path to safety with the help of others. Not a miracle, but clearly a Divine action.
The situation of Peter and the other disciples is different. They are clearly in a liminal space. They are stuck between the Law of the Temple religion, and the power of a man who feeds five thousand and walks on water. They are afraid, confused, and without understanding. The challenge they face is symbolized by the stormy seas. They are thrown about in their confusion and fright. They are betwixt and between the rational knowledge of religious law and the confounding action of a man with miraculous powers. The crossing of the lake is a symbol of their crossing over to a new way of understanding. They are being invited to a new consciousness and understanding of the Living God.
This is the dynamic of a miracle. It is an unexplainable event or experience that invites a person to faith; to a new way of seeing and perceiving the way of God in their lives. Peter serves as the point man who is the first to act.
Peter believes he trusts in Jesus, but quickly finds himself overcome by fear as he sinks into the sea. Miracles alone are not enough to nurture mature trust and a living relationship with God. Notice that Peter acts out of his ego and his emotions. You can almost feel him thinking, ‘if He can do that, I want to do it too.’
He asks, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He does and fails. Jesus invites mature faith. “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
The scene closes with all in the boat saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God.”
They have taken a step toward the other side of the liminal space. Not fully understanding, not fully standing on firm ground yet, but confirmed in the strength of their experience. They come to the other side and go forward.
What may God be saying to us in these in-between times? Like Ezekiel, many are anxious and troubled about all that surrounds them. Some are turning to prayer. Others refuse to be vulnerable by acting out with rudeness, stubbornness, un-cooperation, even violence. The majority are cooperating with concern for themselves and others, some very actively through generosity and service.
Like Peter, some want to take matters into their own hands, yet fail to have the proper understanding of the inner or outer circumstance. With a bad result, Peter had to cry out, “Lord, save me!” Liminal times cannot be forced. Liminality is a spiritual concept that calls for patience and inner surrender so that a new reality can reveal itself. A successful experience will lead a person to a new and essential awareness of the reality and action of God. This is a time to allow faith to grow in us and reveal its fruit. We cannot help feeling anxious, afraid, impatient, and out of sorts. Like Ezekiel and Peter, stay the course. God is active and present. With sufficient grace, time will reveal a new and deep reality of God within.
As I mentioned last weekend, I am currently on vacation. I will return to the parish for Mass on Saturday, August 26th. Let us continue in prayer for one another.
Father John Esper
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