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Twelfth Sunday of the Ordinary Time (Yr B)
Collect
Grant, O Lord, that we may always revere and love your holy name, for you never deprive of your guidance those you set firm on the foundation of your love. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
Reflection
“Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
Who is this? The disciples were amazed when they saw and heard Jesus calm the wind and the sea by saying: “Quiet! Be still!” They had already seen Jesus accomplish many miracles of healing (including that of a person with leprosy), as well as casting out demons, “and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons” (Mk 1:34). It was as if no miracle, no teaching was enough to convince them. Can it be that we are like them? We surely, like the disciples, ask why is it as if Jesus is asleep in the storms we face in life: wars, sickness, concerns about our children and our parents, injustices in our workplace, climate issues, increasing poverty, etc. Jesus’ response to these challenges seems strange.
“Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
“Do you still have no faith?” Now we must be truthful with ourselves. We must ask ourselves: Do we have faith? What faith does Jesus expect from us? It is not simply the faith professed in the Creed. It is a faith of risks. A faith that Jesus is able to lead, heal, console, liberate…calm the storms that we have within ourselves. Do we have this faith? Does the Church have this faith in the face of the crisis in vocations to the priesthood and religious life? Do we have this faith when faced with lukewarm Christians who have become indifferent and hostile towards religion? Do I have the faith to face the storm which is threatening to afflict and destroy me?
They were terrified
This is strange. Jesus had just asked them why were they afraid in the storm, and the disciples, after Jesus calmed the storm, were terrified because of Jesus! It seems that when God gives us a sign in our life or in the life of the Church, there is such amazement that we fear God. Each time a new movement is raised in the Church by the Holy Spirit—such as the Orders founded by St Francis of Assisi and St Dominic and others in recent times—we are afraid to the point that we refuse to accept that this is something from God. This also sometimes happens in our parishes. It also happens in our families. We should ask ourselves: What is God doing in Malta which causes us to fear? What are we seeing or hearing that we do not understand which at the same time is keeping us from truly believing?
Prayer
Lord, as Christians on a small boat in the middle of the sea, our faith also weakens and we look upon reality from the perspective of fear instead of hopeful anticipation for your action. Give us a heart that is open and a mind that is able to discern so through that which sprouts within us, we will have the courage to welcome it with joy and not fear.
