Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Jb 38:1, 8-11; 2 Cor 5:14-17; Mk 4:35-41

06-21-2024Weekly ReflectionThe Faithful Disciple

GROW: St. Boniface, an English Benedictine monk who died in the 8th century, wrote in a letter: “In her voyage across the ocean of this world, the Church is like a great ship being pounded by the waves of life's different stresses. Our duty is not to abandon ship but to keep her on her course.” Oceans and seas, lakes and rivers, baptism. The role of water in daily life and its use as a metaphor are woven throughout our Scriptures. In today’s readings, we hear two references to the sea. First, we have God talking to Job out of a storm, reminding the prophet that he – the Lord – is the one who created the seas and keeps them firmly in their place. The Gospel passage provides us with a stark reminder of that truth. As the disciples and Jesus cross the sea, a storm crops up and threatens to sink their boat. But one command from Jesus and the water is still. St. Boniface had it right. We really all are on that ship with Jesus on its voyage across the ocean of this world, and trusting in him to keep us on course and safe from harm ensures we reach the destinations he intends for us.

GO: How to do our part to keep this great ship that is the Church on course? Trust in Christ, trust that he is present within us and guiding us each day. No one is immune from stormy seas, and like the disciples, we can turn to Jesus in times of peril. He asked the disciples: “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” Like the disciples, we must experience the change of heart that is necessary to place complete trust in Jesus to replace our fear and anxiety. God has things under control. Of course, that is what can be so scary sometimes. I know God will take care of everything, but what if I don’t like how he does it? What if I want him to answer my prayers one way and he answers them a different way? This is where Jesus might ask me: “Do you not yet have faith?” And I would have to reply, “I’m working on it.”

PRAY: We are assured throughout Scripture that God loves us, cares for us, and sustains us. But how do we move from knowing that in our heads to feeling it in our hearts? Prayer. If we center our life on Jesus and his commands, trusting in him will become second nature. Take some time this week and pray with today’s Psalm (107:23-24, 25-26, 28-29, 30-31), which praises God for his love for us and gives voice to trusting in his providence.