Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time
† Sunday 25th June 2000
Theme: The strength of God’s presence brings calm.

A Reading from the Book of Job 38:1, 8 - 11
From the heart of the tempest, the Lord gives Job his answer. Was he present at the beginning of all things? The powerful image of the tumultuous sea, ,and the black storms clouds, being calmed and controlled at a word from God, clearly directs our attention to what will follow in the gospel reading today. Job is given to understand the immense power of the Lord God.

Second Letter of Paul to the Corinthians 5: 14 - 17
Paul is referring to the new creation that takes place for the true disciple of Christ. “The love of Christ overwhelms us,” he says, “...for anyone who is in Christ, there is a new creation; the old creation has gone, and now the new one is here.” There is a sense here of the almost overwhelming power of God at work in our lives, if we will only admit to the presence of the Lord.

Gospel according to Mark 4: 35 - 41
The vivid details provided in this account of the boat trip on the inland sea of Galilee, not only echo the content of the first reading of today, but contain a valuable lesson too. Such sudden squalls are still a feature of this inland water surrounded as it is by hot dry uplands. Many commentators interpret the boisterous stormy sea as representing the powers of chaos and evil. By controlling the storm, Jesus does what God does, and defeats the forces of evil. The evangelist Mark, may wish his readers to reflect upon the identity of this Jesus who sleeps on cushion in the boat despite the raging storm which brings such fear even to those with him in the boat who most likely were well used to the waters hereabouts. Mark wants us to think about the person of Jesus. Like the fearful disciples in the boat that evening, we can ask: “Who can this be? Even the wind and sea obey him.”

Liturgical Note:
† Wednesday 29th June 2000
[Holiday of Obligation in England & Wales ]
© Peter Harrison 2000