“THE LOVE OF CHRIST URGES US ON” (2 Cor 5:14)
⏰TWELFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR B)
📖Job 38:1, 8-11; Ps 107:23-24, 25-26, 28-29, 30-31 (R.v.1); 2 Cor 5:14-17; Mark 4:35-41
🎤”THE LOVE OF CHRIST URGES US ON” (2 Cor 5:14)
“Since Jesus liveth, everything in me will live (4x)
Even dry bone will live, will live (3x)
Since Jesus liveth, everything will live
Beloved friend in Christ, the psalmist said that, “Many are the trials of just, but the Lord delivers them from them all” (Ps 34:19). On daily bases, we encounter many challenges and difficulties that tend to weigh us down. Considering these faith-threatening conditions, our readings of last Sunday encouraged us to persevere in faith and have patience with God because he means well for us, and whatever he says shall be done must come to pass (cf. Num 23:19; Isa 2:2, 54:10; 1 Thess 5:24).
Today, the message is still the same but the approach differs. Last Sunday, the message was delivered in parables, but today, a miracle is introduced. The major purpose of that miracle is to show that Jesus has authority over all powers, thus serving as a reassurance to the downcast early Christians and of the ability of Jesus to save them.
At the time that the Gospel of Mark was being compiled, the early Christians were undergoing serious difficulties and persecutions. This happened to the extent that they were then feeling abandoned by God. They forgot that Jesus had said that he is going to be with them till the end of time (cf. Matt 28:20).
In the tradition of the Jews, the sea is normally considered as the seat of the kingdom of the evil one. The storm and the waves are seen as the forces through which the evil powers manifest. Now, recall that the parables that preceded the miracle in today’s Gospel were referring to the Kingdom of God. The fact that Jesus was able to control those forces shows that Jesus has divine powers over the kingdom of the evil one.
Let us note that storms and waves can also stand for trials and tribulations which the just pass through in life. That is the message of the First Reading from the Book of Job. But just as Jesus was able to calm the storm, he can also take care of our problems, no matter how big they might be.
Hence, St. Paul encourages us in the Second Reading to immerse ourselves in the love of Christ. This means that we will no longer live for ourselves, as we wish, but for Christ who had died and rose for our sake (2Cor 5:15-16). By so doing, we shall become new creations, the untouchables, who can no longer easily be lured into error by the evil one, nor be subdued into depression, because in Christ, we are more than conquerors (cf. Rom 8:37). We can then say boldly with St. Paul, It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me (Gal 2:20). Therefore, I can do all things in him who gives me strength (Phil 4:13).
May the overcoming presence of Christ calm all the troubling storms that affect our lives daily. And may we always recognize his power over all our life situations. Amen.
Have a lovely Sunday ahead. Peace be with you.
