June 20, 2021 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

Readings: Job 38:1,8-11; 2 Cor. 5:14-17; Mk 4:35-41.

How Violent is Your Storm? Can You See Him Sleeping Through It?

1.     In today’s gospel reading Jesus’s disciples are on the Lake of Galilee when a violent storm occurred. When they felt the raging storm, they were so afraid that they woke Jesus up. Though they knew that the Lord was with them, they still were consumed by fear. And so, Jesus said to them: “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” (Mk 4:41). The storm-tossed boat is an image of the Church universal sailing through the ages. Jesus is present with the Church and concerned for its wellbeing even when his care is not perceived.

2.     The first reading presented us with Job who experienced the storm of his life. “Job was blameless and upright man who feared God and avoided evil.” (Job 1:1). God was proud of him and so pointed him out to Satan: “Have you noticed my servant Job, and that there is no one on earth like him, blameless and upright, fearing God and avoiding evil.” (Job 1:8). From there the storm of life turned for the worse until Job lost everything, property, family, and his health. When finally, God answered Job, “out of the whirlwind” (Job 38:1) no justification for the problem of suffering was given. Instead, God invited Job to believe that suffering was within the mysterious design of his universe, he “laid the foundation of the earth” (Job 38:4). Within God’s design for the world there is a place for losses, setbacks, storms, brokenness, pains, disappointments, and disasters. From the discussion between God and Job, we are told that it was in God’s hands to set limits to the seas, to say, “Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stopped.” (Job 38:11). God has control over nature, and everything he has created, as Jesus possesses the divine power over the forces of nature.

3.     In our world today, we find ourselves in a perfect storm politically and emotionally. We experience violent storms and gun storms, election storms and medical storms, covid-19 pandemic storm and moral storm, spiritual storm and vaccination storm, education storm, sickness, and death storm. We have a humanitarian storm and immigration storm. Our world is shaken, sharpened, and shaped by all kinds of unimaginable storms. Through it all, Jesus sleeps and seems not bothered at all. How beautiful does he look in that perfect and baby-like sleep of his while we cry out for help. Why does he not care? Why should he be sleeping while we are in perilous storm?

4.     It was a storm that rocked the world of John Newton, the captain of a slave boat and brought about his conversion. He prayed like the disciples in today’s gospel. “God if you will only save us, I promise to be your slave forever.” Jesus heard his prayer and saved his ship from destruction. From that storm came conversion, a change of heart and a new song. “Amazing grace! How sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see… Through many dangers, toils, and snare, I have already come; Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.” The psalmist tells us how to act in a violent storm “In their trouble they called to the Lord, and he saved them… He calmed the raging storm, and the waves became quiet.” (Ps. 107: 6, 29).

5.     How violent is your storm? Can you see Jesus sleeping through it? How do we get out of our storms? Truth be told, we will never avoid all the storms that threaten us. According to Napoleon Hill, “The strongest oak of the forest is not the one that is protected from the storm and hidden from the sun. It’s the one that stands in the open where it is compelled to struggle for its existence against the winds and the rains and the scorching sun.” David was once in a political and moral tsunami. His situation was so bad that he was not allowed to build a temple for the Lord. He found a way out of his storm because of his faith in God. He prayed himself out of it. “Out of the depths I call to you, Lord, Lord, hear my cry! May your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.” (Ps. 130:1-2). A healthy prayer life and faith in God will always get us out of the storm of life. And so, we are told “To be still and know that I am God!” (Ps.46:11). “Because when the just cry out, the Lord hears and rescues them from all distress.” (Ps. 34:18).

6.     The storms in our life ought to make us strong rather than put us down. It is all in the way we handle them. In the journey called life, the question is not “will storms arise? Rather, “When will the next storm arise?” And even more important than that question is, “What type of person will I be when the next storm arises?” During Christ’s time the Lake of Galilee was notorious for its storms. And despite its destructive effects, Christ never attempted to abolish them but just stopped them for a moment. In our storm, we must hold on to Jesus. Though he may seem to be sleeping, he is still very powerful in his sleep. If you have faith, you will see that though Christ may be asleep, he is very active and always at work for your good. For “We know that all things work for good for those who love God.” (Rom. 8:28). The storm of life may seem to overpower us, and we may think we are alone in our struggle, but Christ is there seemingly sleeping. In that sleep, there is power. You may wake him up, and as soon as he is up, the squall will calm down, and there will be peace. But he will question us, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” On this Father’s Day we congratulate and pray for all fathers alive or dead. May God protect and guide them now and always. Let us pray that our faith may be strong, and our confidence may not waver. May God carry us on an eagles’ wings and bring us to himself. Amen.

 

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP