Today's readings present two very different experiences of God.

In the first reading, Elijah is told to go outside and wait for a personal visit from God. That's quite an invitation. Who knows what Elijah was expecting? A bolt of lightning? A thunderous voice? An earthquake? Elijah experienced all of these. Then, "there was a tiny whispering sound. When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak."

In today's Gospel reading, the disciples are lost at sea, in the midst of a storm. Jesus comes to their assistance, walking on the water. Peter wants to join his master, but when he tries, Peter grows afraid and sinks. Jesus rescues Peter and calms the storm. When the wind dies down, "Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, 'Truly, you are the Son of God.'"

It is hard to tell from today's readings what we are to learn. Are we to expect God to speak to us through spectacular miracles, or though "a tiny whispering sound"? Perhaps the answer is that we should be prepared for both. That we should expect the miraculous as well as bend our ears for the whispering voice of God.

If you're like me, you would probably prefer that God would stick to the spectacular event as the primary means of divine communication. I mean, I'd like to think that even I could recognize Jesus if I were, say, sinking on a ship in "The Perfect Storm," and Jesus came gliding across the water to calm the storm. That seems pretty easy.

It seems far more difficult to try and tune my ear to discern that the voice of God is present in some tiny, barely audible sound. You'd have to know what you were listening for.

We know from Scripture to expect to experience God in many forms --- in the face of a stranger, in a request for a glass of water, and in the presence of the poor and imprisoned. We are also told to expect God in the miraculous healing of the sick, and rescue from disaster.

Jesus Christ represents both methods of communication. On one hand, he calms the seas, he heals the sick, and he even raises the dead. On the other hand, he is a virtual "nobody" in the religious and social world of the first century. He is a tiny whisper of a man. He is also a tidal wave of healing power.

How are we to respond to the presence of God, whether through grand gesture or tiny voice? Elijah buries his face in humility when he hears the voice of God. Peter sinks as he tries to reach Jesus the miracle worker. Both of these gestures are, in a way, acts of worship --- recognition that we are in the presence of something immeasurably greater than ourselves.

This is the heart of the good news of the Gospel, that we are not alone. We are instead surrounded by infinite love. Let us pray we have the eyes to see it, the ears to hear, and that we are able to use our hands to grasp it.

Bill Peatman writes from Napa.