Job 38:1. 8-11; Psalm 106 (107): 23-26. 28-31. R/ v. 1; 2 Corinthians 5:14-17 Mark 4:35-41
Theme: JESUS CALMED THE STORM: JESUS OVERCAME CHAOS AND EVIL
1. Today is the 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B. The gospel today tells us that Jesus is God. He does things that only God can do. He calmed the storm, that is, he overcame chaos and evil. The gospel tells us to put our faith in Jesus. Thus we read in the gospel:
“Then it began to blow a gale and the waves were breaking into the boat so that it was almost swamped. But Jesus was in the stern, his head on the cushion, asleep. His disciples woke him and said to him, ‘Master, do you not care? We are going down!’ And he woke up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Quiet now! Be calm!’ And the wind dropped, and all was calm again. Then he said to them, ‘Why are you so frightened? How is it that you have no faith?’ They were filled with awe and said to one another, ‘Who can this be? Even the wind and the sea obey him.’” (Mk 4:37-41/SM)
2. The first reading follows the theme of the gospel. The first reading tells us that God can control the sea. The sea symbolizes chaos and evil. (Faley) In fact God created the sea! Thus we read in the first reading:
“Then out of the storm the Lord spoke to Job: Who closed the gate to hold back the sea when it burst from the womb of the earth? It was I who covered the sea with clouds and wrapped it in darkness. I marked a boundary for the sea and kept it behind bolted gates. I told it, ‘So far and no further! Here your powerful waves must stop.’” (Jb 38:1. 8-11/Good News Bible)
3. The responsorial psalm follows the theme of the first reading. The responsorial psalm tells us that God saves us from the stormy sea. The responsorial psalm is a thanksgiving to God for salvation from the stormy sea. Thus the response of the responsorial psalm:
“O give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures for ever.” (Ps 106 (107): 1)
The responsorial psalm has four stanzas. The first and second stanzas tell us of the stormy sea. The third stanza tells us that those in the stormy sea prayed to God for help and God saved them from the stormy sea. The fourth stanza tells us that those saved from the stormy sea give thanks to God. (HCSB) Thus we read in the second verse of the fourth stanza:
“Let them thank the Lord for his love, the wonders he does for men.” (Ps 106 (107): 31/SM)
4. The second reading tells us that Jesus “calmed the storm”, that is, overcame chaos and evil, through his love, and through his death and resurrection! Thus we read in the second reading:
“The love of Christ overwhelms us when we reflect that if one man has died for all, then all men should be dead; and the reason he died for all was so that living men should live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised to life for them.” (2 Co 5:14-15/SM)
5. Today in the Eucharist, we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and we eat his body and drink his blood, and our Risen Lord will give us the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will calm the storm in us, that is, overcome the chaos and evil in us; and the Holy Spirit will help us calm the storm in the world, that is, to overcome the chaos and evil in the world!
Amen!
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