Gospel Reflection June 23 – Fr. Lynch
Sunday, June 23
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Mark 4: 35-41
Gospel:
On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples:
“Let us cross to the other side.”
Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was.
And other boats were with him.
A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat,
so that it was already filling up.
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?”
He woke up,
rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!”
The wind ceased and there was great calm.
Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified?
Do you not yet have faith?”
They were filled with great awe and said to one another,
“Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”
Gospel Reflection:
In this dramatic scene, Jesus demonstrates two things for his Apostles. First, that He is a teacher (as his apostles correctly identify, but not in the ordinary way), and second, that He is much more than a teacher — He can even control and command the weather — He is divine.
Imagine yourself in the boat with the Lord. Where would you be sitting? OUR LORD TEACHES US THAT IF WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BOAT, WE ARE MUCH SAFER. When we sit on the edges we have a greater chance of falling in the water and drowning. Do you feel like you are falling off the edge of the boat sometimes in your faith life? Confession provides the sacramental grace to put us all back in the middle of the boat, safe with Our Lord.
The Church, as the Bride of Christ, is our boat for life, to give us all the grace we need to sustain us in this world until we reach the next. St. Brigid of Kildare…pray for us!
Father Lynch