The Storm (2015-06-21, 12th Sun)

12^th Sunday (B) / 21 June 2015

Job 38:1, 8-11  _   Psalm 107 __  2 Corinthians 5:14-17

Mark 4:35-41

  

[__01___]         In certain seasons – and on certain occasions – the weather – the conditions of meteorology – rainfall, sun, humidity – is not one section of the news, but rather the weather is all the news that is fit to print.

And, certainly for places in our own country, in Texas and the southwestern U.S., the severe rainfall and storms require the attention and efforts of many to rescue and to rebuild.

The weather is the news; the conditions themselves may not always be good news. Nevertheless, these conditions of precipitation or drought, rain or shine, is the news.

[__02___]      We read in the Gospel Good News this Sunday about the navigation of Peter, James, John and the disciples on the boat, on the Sea of Galilee with Jesus.

We read that after they had set sail …

“a violent squall came up  [“a great storm of wind arose”]  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?’”

 (Mark 4:37-38)

Jesus, our Savior, had apparently not tuned into The Weather Channel.

Meanwhile, The Weather Channel was the only station of interest to the disciples.

[__03___]         Jesuit Father Edward Mally indicates that this episode shows both the anxiety and also the faith of the disciples – and of the early Church – in Christ, even under stress, even at times when God appears to be asleep or absent, silent.

We can still bring our prayers to him in times of difficulty.

On the other hand, this episode on the boat also invites us to bring ourselves to Christ in thanksgiving for the good things, the successes and prosperity we may experience.  We are also called to give thanks for his power and strength.

[__04__]      Yes, at times, there are deluges and wildfires and droughts which are weather related.

These require our attention and possibly specialized rescue equipment, fire trucks, police, firefighters, EMS, and ambulances.

These conditions may come upon us with little or no advance warning. It may or may not be in the 5 or 10 day forecast.

The storm for the disciples on the boat symbolizes not only the clouds that might gather but also the conditions created by evil by injustice.

[__05__]       At times, these conditions are similar to WEATHER CONDITIONS or extremes of temperature.

That is, due to evil/injustice on a large scale or on a smaller interpersonal scale, we may be inclined to lock ourselves up or – as the disciples do – to consider that this is the end of – rather than a turning point

  

[__06__]       Our Savior is reminding us to take action out of love, out of charity, even in times of anxiety or injustice. This will bring us closer to our salvation.

Saint Basil, the great spiritual father and spiritual director, writes:

“If we turn away from evil out of fear of punishment, we are in the position of slaves. If we pursue the enticement of wages, . . . we resemble mercenaries. Finally if we obey for the sake of the good itself and out of love for him who commands . . . we are in the position of children.”  (CCC 1828, St. Basil, Reg. fus. tract., prol. 3: PG 31, 896B.)

[**PAUSE***]

[__07__]      In the Gospel this Sunday, we read that the rainfall and wind conditions changed – they arrived – quite suddenly.

It was a “violent squall.”

VIOLENT. VIOLENCE.

This Sunday, we also mourn and pray for the victims of the squall – the storm – in this past Wednesday’s tragedy at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in South Carolina, in Charleston.

Certainly all of us are called to remember that God does not abandon us in our need, that while human free will can be a ray of hope, this human freedom can also be used for evil purposes, and to manifest one’s sinful choices, in pride and hatred.

This the storm against which our brothers and sisters in Charleston were defenseless.

The Lord invites us to faith, hope, and charity in our prayers for all the people of God, for all us to recall that God will bring healing to this injury, light to this darkness and that we are called to turn to him, so that we ourselves are not driven or overcome by conditions beyond us, but that we are turning to God in the midst of this storm – or any storm – to be quiet and to be still.   [_fin_]