Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time: A God who guides me through storms of life

 

First Reading  Job 38:1,8-11
The Lord answers Job's complaints.

Responsorial Psalm  Psalm 107:23-24,25-26,28-29,30-31
A song of praise to God for rescue

Second Reading  2 Corinthians 5:14-17
Those in Christ are a new creation.

Gospel Reading
Mark 4:35-41

The sea is a wonderful metaphor in Scripture. It represents evil, chaos and disorder. So, when Jesus calms the storm and the sea is stilled, it is a symbol for us that God can still the chaos and disorder in our lives. In some versions of the Bible, it says that “Jesus rebuked the storm…” which is an illustration of the divine power of God at work in the world. Life is so unpredictable, we don’t know what surprises lie in store for us from day to day, even from hour to hour. The words of God to us in Isaiah 43 are so beautiful. His promise is this: “Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.” That is the experience of Christians throughout history. That is the experience of so many of us. For those of us who are currently in the storms and chaos of life, the promise of God holds good for us today.