Encounter with God

08-09-2026Weekly ReflectionFr. Bing Colasito

This Sunday's readings present three different encounters with God. Elijah meets the Lord on Mount Horeb, the mountain of God. St. Paul, in his Letter to the Romans, encounters the Lord Jesus in the depths of his conscience. And the Apostle Peter, in his characteristic boldness, meets Jesus walking on the waters. Three different people, three different encounters with God. As we reflect on these stories, we are invited to examine our own personal encounter with the living God.

By nature, every human person longs for God. St. Augustine teaches that God created us with a restless heart that can find its rest only in Him. Deep within us is a longing, a void that no earthly possession, achievement, or relationship can fully satisfy. Only God can fill it.

Yet God is infinite in power, majesty, and glory. His greatness surpasses all human understanding. Scripture tells us that even a glimpse of His glory would overwhelm us. In God's presence, we experience both attraction and awe, love and reverent fear. Yet there is nothing greater than being with God, for His goodness exceeds all that we can imagine. As the Lord said to Moses: “You cannot see my face, for no one can see me and live” (Exodus 33:20).

In the first reading, Elijah goes to Mount Horeb expecting God to reveal Himself through spectacular signs. Indeed, there is a powerful wind, an earthquake, and a fire. Yet God is not found in any of these. Instead, Elijah encounters the Lord in a tiny whispering sound. This teaches us an important lesson: God often comes to us not in dramatic displays of power, but in silence, stillness, and intimacy. God speaks quietly to the heart that listens. Upon recognizing God's presence, Elijah covers his face in reverence and listens attentively to the Lord's message.

In the Gospel, Peter's encounter with Jesus reveals another dimension of faith. When Jesus says, “Do not be afraid,” He offers both an invitation and an assurance. Peter steps out of the boat and walks toward Jesus. Leaving the boat means leaving behind his only visible security amid the storm. Yet this is precisely what faith requires.

The Lord often calls us beyond what seems reasonable, beyond what appears humanly possible. When He calls, we naturally experience hesitation, doubts, fears, and questions. But faith moves us forward despite them. Peter walks on water as long as his eyes remain fixed on Jesus. The moment he focuses on the wind and the waves, he begins to sink.

The same is true for us. If we fix our hearts on Christ rather than on our fears, problems, and uncertainties, we discover that His presence is enough. Even when we stumble, He reaches out His hand to save us.

Today, the Lord continues to meet us—in moments of silence, in the depths of our conscience, and amid the storms of life. He invites us to trust Him, to step out in faith, and to keep our eyes fixed on Him. When we walk with faith in our hearts, we are never alone. No wind or waves should cause us to waver in our journey of faith, for the Lord is always with us.