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• Cycle B - Year I:  

  
  

  20 June 2021: Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time 
  

  (Liturgical Color: Green)
  

  
  

  Readings:

  
  

  First Reading:        Job 38:1, 8-11

  Second Reading:   2 Corinthians 5:14-17

  
  

  Gospel:  Please Read  Mark 4:35-41 
  

  
  

  "We are safe, in God's hand!

  
  

  There is the popular saying that "God does not promise us a life without storms but that He will lead us through the storm."  It seems it has its biblical roots in this Sunday's Gospel event. Let us see.

  
  

  St. Mark tells us the Gospel narrative for this Sunday. When Jesus and His disciples were out at sea, a "violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up." The disciples were afraid for their lives but Jesus was sleeping.  They woke Him up, and our Lord "rebuked the wind and said to the sea ''Quiet! Be still!  The wind ceased and there was great calm." (Mk 4:39)

  
  

  First, let us examine and understand the scene described above while Jesus and His disciples were at sea.   Few situations leave humans so helpless as storms at sea.  Now, the Lake of Galilee, where Jesus and the disciples were sailing in the Gospel narrative, is known for the violence of its squalls.  Because of the geographical situation of the Lake, weather disturbances in the Lake arise then subside rapidly and unpredictably.  During these squalls the forces of nature unleash their full terrifying force threatening human fragility.  That's the reason why the disciples were greatly afraid and terrified that they would sink and perish at sea. And St. Mark makes it clear the disciples feared for their lives, so the storm was not a minor one.

  
  

  The disciples woke up the sleeping Jesus, and the Lord commanded the winds and the sea to calm down and be still. And the violent forces of Nature obeyed Him and the sea was calm again.

  
  

  Now, the disciples were amazed and shocked, even more than the stormy lake had frightened them just moments before, that even Nature's wrath obeyed Jesus.  They had seen Jesus' miracles, heard His wisdom, witnessed His power to bring back the dead to life, but to see Nature's wrath submit to His power -- this was a Lordship they have not yet even conceived: clearly, Jesus is Christ, our Lord.

  
  

  So what lesson do we learn from this Gospel narrative?

  
  

  The disciples found themselves in a strong storm in the middle of the sea, so it wasn't unreasonable, nor was it cowardly, that they feared and panicked. But it showed their lack of faith in Jesus. They did not trust Jesus completely, and was afraid they would sink and perish at sea even though Jesus was with them on board.

  
  

  The same thing happens to us when we have our doubts -- for example when we question a particular Church teaching; when we hesitate to obey the voice of conscience; when we delay going to confession; when we allow frustration and anxiety carry us away in the face of life's difficulties.  In these ways, and in many more, it shows we don't know our Lord as we should, and didn't trust Him as we ought to.

  
  

  And yet each Sunday Mass we recite our belief in the Creed: "We believe in one God, the Father Almighty....." So why do we doubt? If we truly believe, no storm can shake our faith.

  
  

  The lesson Christ is teaching us here is very clear: When the Lord is with us, and we believe, we are safe absolutely.... from life's storms and difficulties. Amen.

  
  

  A blessed Sunday to us all.  And thank you for a moment with God.

  
  

  
  

  Ad Jesum per Mariam!