Sunday Readings Commentary and Reflections 12 th Sunday in the Ordinary Time B June 21, 2015 In preparation for this Sunday’s liturgy As aid in focusing our homilies and sharing Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM

1 st Reading: Job 38,  1 The LORD addressed Job out of the storm and said:  8 And who shut within doors the sea,  when it burst forth from the womb;  9 When I made the clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling bands?  10 When I set limits for it and fastened the bar of its door,  11 And said: Thus far shall you come but no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stilled! The focus is on God’s power over nature.

1 st Reading: Job 38, The LORD addressed Job out of the storm and said:  8 And who shut within doors the sea,  when it burst forth from the womb;  9 When I made the clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling bands?  10 When I set limits for it and fastened the bar of its door,  11 And said: Thus far shall you come but no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stilled! Commentary  God talks to Job, wherein he speaks of his wisdom and power, which are altogether beyond the capacity of Job, who therefore should never dare to demand a reason for the divine actions. (NAB)  In v.1, the expression “out of the storm” is frequently the background when God appears. (Psalm 18; 50; Nahum 1:3; Hebrews 3).  In vv.8-10, God poses a question to Job: Who?  The expected answer is none other than God.  Job must recognize his limitations. V.11

Reflections on the 1 st reading  When we suffer, we ask God a lot of questions.  Why does he allow us to suffer?  We complain, we demand reasons.  It is legitimate to ask.  But we may not always be able to accept the reasons, because we don’t like suffering.  We cannot fully understand the mystery of suffering or God’s wisdom.  Therefore, we should not waste time asking for explanations.

Reflections, con’t  The story of Job asks us to TRUST HIM, if you know what that means.  We should spend the rest of our lives trusting in the power and wisdom of the Lord, rather than sulking, nor asking for an accounting from the Lord.

Responsorial Ps. 107:23-24, 25-26, 28-29,  R. (1b) Give thanks to the Lord, his love is everlasting.  23 They who sailed the sea in ships, trading on the deep waters, 24 These saw the works of the LORD and his wonders in the abyss.  25 His command raised up a storm wind which tossed its waves on high. 26 They mounted up to heaven; they sank to the depths; their hearts melted away in their plight.  28 They cried to the LORD in their distress; from their straits he rescued them, 29 He hushed the storm to a gentle breeze, and the billows of the sea were stilled.  30 They rejoiced that they were calmed, and he brought them to their desired haven. 31 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his kindness and his wondrous deeds to the children of men.

Responsorial Ps. 107:23-24, 25-26, 28-29,  R. (1b) Give thanks to the Lord, his love is everlasting.  23 They who sailed the sea in ships, trading on the deep waters, 24 These saw the works of the LORD and his wonders in the abyss.  25 His command raised up a storm wind which tossed its waves on high. 26 They mounted up to heaven; they sank to the depths; their hearts melted away in their plight.  28 They cried to the LORD in their distress; from their straits he rescued them, 29 He hushed the storm to a gentle breeze, and the billows of the sea were stilled.  30 They rejoiced that they were calmed, and he brought them to their desired haven. 31 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his kindness and his wondrous deeds to the children of men. Commentary  The responsorial psalm, classified as thanksgiving hymn, articulates in poetic form the power of God as it is witnessed by the sailors.  Vv talk about sailors who witness the works and wonders of God in the high seas.  Vv attribute to the power of God the storm wind and high waves, which terrify the sailors.  Vv describe the natural reaction of the sailors in distress. In their helplessness, they cry out to the Lord.  Vv describe the joy of the sailors, when God comes to their rescue. They give thanks to God.

Reflections on the Psalm  God shows his power through natural forces.  He is in control of them.  We humans must recognize God’s power in the vast oceans and vast spaces.  We are helpless in the midst of life- threatening situations.  No one can spare us, but God.  When we are battered by a storm, let us cry out to the Lord.

2 nd reading: 2 Cor 5,14-17  14 The love of Christ impels us, once we have come to the conviction that one died for all; therefore, all have died. 15 He indeed died for all, so that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.  16 Consequently, from now on we regard no one according to the flesh; even if we once knew Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know him so no longer.  17 So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. The focus is the meaning of Christ’s death.

2 nd reading: 2 Cor 5,14-17  14 The love of Christ impels us, once we have come to the conviction that one died for all; therefore, all have died. 15 He indeed died for all, so that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.  16 Consequently, from now on we regard no one according to the flesh; even if we once knew Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know him so no longer.  17 So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. Commentary :  Paul reflects on the meaning of Christ’s death:  He died for all (vv.14-15).  The purpose of his dying:  that those who benefited from his death will live for him, not for themselves.  In v.16, Paul states the implication of Christ’s death for us.  We put on a different optic, a different way of looking at people.  When we live for Christ, we no longer regard him as flesh, (v.16) but a new creation, bringing new things (v.17).

Reflections on the 2 nd reading  Like St. Paul, we Christians must draw meaning out of Christ’s death.  We no longer live for ourselves, but for Him.  We move from being self-centered to Christ- centered.  With Christ’s death, we take on a different way of looking at others.  We don’t see our fellow humans according to our human perspective (fleshly standards).  We put on a different optic, that of Christ.  In this way, we become a new creation.  We see new things coming our way.

Gospel: Mark 4,35-41  35 On that day, as evening drew on, he said to them, "Let us cross to the other side." 36 Leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. 38 Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" 39 He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Quiet! Be still!" The wind ceased and there was great calm. 40 Then he asked them, "Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?" 41 They were filled with great awe and said to one another, "Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?" The focus is on Jesus’ power over the storm.

Gospel: Mark 4,35-41 Setting  35 On that day, as evening drew on, he said to them, "Let us cross to the other side." 36 Leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. Storm  37 A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. Confident Jesus / worried disciples  38 Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" Powerful Jesus rebukes the wind and sea  39 He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Quiet! Be still!" The wind ceased and there was great calm. Jesus rebukes the disciples  40 Then he asked them, "Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?" Awe and questioning  41 They were filled with great awe and said to one another, "Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?" A simple outline!

Gospel: Mark 4,35-41 Setting  35 On that day, as evening drew on, he said to them, "Let us cross to the other side." 36 Leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. Storm  37 A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. Confident Jesus / worried disciples  38 Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" Powerful Jesus rebukes the wind and sea  39 He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Quiet! Be still!" The wind ceased and there was great calm. Jesus rebukes the disciples  40 Then he asked them, "Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?" Awe and questioning  41 They were filled with great awe and said to one another, "Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?" Commentary :  It is necessary for us to notice the movements of the story. Movements (changes)  1. Let us cross …(v.35)  2. Jesus’ sleeping, then waking (vv.38 and 39)  3. Storm (v.37), then calm (v.39)  4. Perishing (v.38), terrified (v.40) and no faith (v.40), then awe and faith (v.41)

Reflections on the gospel reading  When we journey with Jesus, we must be prepared to face troubles.  The roads may not be smooth all the time.  Jesus demands faith from us.  Faith overcomes worry and unnecessary anxiety.  In the reading, Jesus demonstrates his power over the storm (life-threatening force of nature).  Jesus can show it again to us, if there is a need.

Tying the 3 readings and the Psalm  In the first reading, God speaks from the storm. God wants Job to realize that God is powerful and wise.  The second reading talks about the meaning of Christ’s death (after a storm).  In the gospel, the storm provokes strong attention to Jesus.  The psalm articulates well in the form of praise and thanksgiving the experience of a person who survives a storm.

How to develop your homily / sharing  Tell something about a storm in your life. (sudden death of a loved one, bankruptcy, lingering illness, crisis, etc.)  Storms lead us, like Job, to a crisis of faith.  We ask God what he is doing. We doubt if he is really powerful.  In the first reading, God answers our questionings with a counter question.  Who made the storm? Who can stop it?  The intelligent reader must make a proper answer and conclusion:  God. So… trust him.

 The second reading tells of the storm (death) which Christ undergoes.  In faith, we must find meaning in Christ’s death.  It makes us other-centered, Christ-centered, not self-centered, according to Paul, because Christ died for us.  Thinking not of oneself and thinking for the good of the other are good signs that we have captured the true meaning of Christ’s death.  Now we can also make sense out of our storms (sufferings and deaths), big and small.

 In the gospel, Jesus and the apostles are not spared of storms.  If you are with Jesus, it does not mean, you are worry-free.  Important in the gospel is the recognition of Jesus as savior.  In times of danger, we must approach Jesus even if we have little or no faith.  He will do something for us.  But Jesus prefers that a faith that is big.

 We need a deep spirituality (faith) to fight and to survive natural and human-made calamities and catastrophes.  Storms are here to stay.  As we try to cope with storms, let us not create storms for others. Let us not be the cause of their sufferings (irresponsible statements, judgments, carelessness, withholding necessary information, not sharing resources, usury, indebtedness, asking people to buy something from us which they don’t need, making life difficult for others, bad deals, bad decisions, etc.).

 When there is a disaster, we must be ready to help or appeal for help for the victims.  The faithful can be like Christ who is there to calm the storm and send relief to victims or survivors.  Victims or not, we have to realize that we have someone to cling to: Jesus Christ.

 The psalm helps us to articulate the joy of having survived the vicissitudes of nature and the cruelty of the world.  This prayer helps us to anticipate God’s intervention in our trying moments.  The psalm balances our afflictions with the hope of full recovery.

 In the eucharist, Jesus comes to allay our fears and insecurities.  If we believe in his presence in the eucharist, we must have hope, an assurance that things will get better (of course, with our cooperation).  In the eucharist, we express our willingness to share in the sufferings of Jesus and of humanity, that are caused by injustices.

Our Context of Sin and Grace  Egocentric  Ego trips  Devastations  Faithlessness  False expectations  Fears  Not focused on Christ in trying moments  Faith  Spirituality  Trust in God  Altruism  Solidarity  Christocentrism  Courage  Suffering with meaning

Suggested songs Biyayang Mula sa ‘yo (offertory)  Be not afraid (communion)  Come To Me (communion)  Problems (just for reflection) 