for August 3
Monday of the Eighteenth Week of Ordinary Time

On most weekdays, the first and second readings proceed on their own trajectories; they have not been chosen to fit together. But sometimes, an interesting juxtaposition results. Just is the case today, when the stories of the false prophet Hananiah and the ‘little faith’ of Matthew’s disciples challenges us to re-examine where we place our faith and how much faith is enough.

The first reading picks up in the middle of a story: at the Lord’s command, the prophet Jeremiah is wearing a wooden yoke. It symbolizes submission to exile in Babylon; through Jeremiah’s actions and words, the Lord warns the people of the southern kingdom of Judah against resisting the harsh consequences of their failure to keep their covenant. The people are warned to ignore the lies of prophets who predict a swift return to their homelands and worship. 

Hananiah is just such a prophet; he breaks Jeremiah’s wooden yoke and announces a swift return from exile. But instead, Hananiah himself will die, for he has “raised false confidence in this people.”  

Then there’s Peter, standing on a stormy sea.

The disciples have been sent ahead of Jesus into the storm. When Jesus comes to them over the water, they don’t recognize him at first (doesn’t that sound familiar?) His words of reassurance, “Take courage, it is I” are also an assertion of his identity with the God who created and calms the mighty seas. 

What are we to make of Peter’s response? Is there some hint of testing, of challenging Jesus when he says “If it is you. . .”? Peter has enough confidence in Jesus to get out of the boat, out of his small place of security in the storm. Then, as we know well and can easily imagine, he panics and starts sinking below the waves. As Jesus stretches out his hand to Peter, he once again does exactly as is said of the God of Israel, stretching out a hand to save.

Then the disciples recognize Jesus as truly the Son of God. So do the people on the other side of the sea, who are confident that the merest touch of the fringe of his clothing is enough to heal all of the sick in the surrounding country.

Seen together, Hananiah and Jeremiah, Peter and Jesus pose both (as is so often the case) a challenge and a consolation. Be careful, Jeremiah and Hananiah warn us, about where you place your faith. Don’t be too quick to rely on divine rescue for the mess you’ve created for yourself. Yet like Peter, we are called to leave behind what we might cling to and move toward Jesus. Remember how easily, though, Peter’s faith was shaken. But know also, that whatever few steps you take, and with at the slightest brush of a passing tassel, God reaches out for you with healing and salvation.
—BJ Brown

Today’s readings can be found on the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website.