The Boat. Drill. Distress. Direction (2021-06-20, Sunday -12)

Homily – June 20, 2021  /   12^th Sunday (Year B)  

● Job 38:1, 8-11  ●  Psalm 107- ●  2 Corinthians 5:14-17 ● + Mark 4:35-41 ●

Title: The Boat. Drill. Distress. Direction.

[__00__]    Why are you terrified?

I was a little bit terrified the first time I encountered this gospel because it was my very first weekend here as a priest after my ordination as a priest and my seminary studies. I remember that this middle-of-June weekend, priests are often assigned to new parishes. This gospel comes up at this time of year. I remember that this “Calming of the Storm”was the [Gospel].

 

[__01__]    I only recently became aware of this, there are maritime laws (i.e., rules of the water for boats) about what happens if a boat is in distress.  That is, boats (vessels) on the water have a responsibility to rescue another boat in trouble.

          There was a law passed in 1974, for the whole world, officially stating that for “Safety of Life at Sea” that any boat (ship) learning of persons in distress should proceed with all speed to their assistance.

           

[__02__]     One example of a ship proceeding to rescue those in distress was called the Carpathia. In the North Atlantic Ocean on April 15, 1912, the Carpathia – which no one had ever heard of and most people have since forgotten – was thrust into the limelight and spotlight because of a distress call from the much more famous and much larger Titanic. The Titanic had just collided with its iceberg.

          Another thing…just in case you did not know, the Titanic cruise ship was a real-life event and not just a movie. I once heard that some people born after 1912… were not really sure if this was a true event. I’m sure you are aware, but just checking. The Titanic was not just a movie but there was an iceberg… Not a good combination. Titanic was in trouble.

          The “rescuing” ship was also a cruise ship and was absolutely full with 700 souls, 700 passengers on board.  Yet, through adeptness and perseverance of the crew, the rescue ship pulled in 705 Titanic survivors. The crew of the Carpathia was celebrated and received medals. Of course, fewer people remember the Carpathia. I did not either and had to look this up.

          Meanwhile, for the Titanic, not only will the ship and iceberg never be forgotten, but its heart will go on,  and on ….thanks to Celine Dion, Kate Winslet, Leonardo DiCaprio, and many, many Academy Awards and accolades.

         

[__03__]    The rescuers had heard and were responding to a call. This was there way, to obey the call. There was no other way for them, though it surely must have thrown off their prior timetable. That’s what often happens when we try to do what is right. There is a lesson in here to obeying, obeying God and God’s word. The difficulties sometimes that we find in that. It’s difficult for the disciples.  

 

 [__04__]     The disciples are on board, on the water on the Sea of Galilee, with Jesus when a storm picks up, and kicks up.

          Imagine one of the recent thunderstorms or torrential downpours we have received…but probably much worse. Also, they were all wet.

          I’d like to touch on 3 things which we encounter and experience when we are on a boat – or also – in an airplane.

          There is the DRILL, the DISTRESS, the DIRECTION.

         

 

[__05__]     [1^st “DRILL”]

          When we are on a boat – or in an airplane – one of the very first things we have to participate in is the safety protocol explanation. The safety protocol explanation that we surely hope we will never have to use or remember.

          Some of us have, perhaps, even taken a nap during this explanation, or looked at our phones, or read a book.  Also, if we have heard the instructions before we tend to tune out because we already, so to say, “know the drill”.

          Nevertheless, there is a drill and something special to know about being on board a vessel such as a ship or airplane.

          While Jesus was asleep on a cushion near the stern of the boat and the disciples are very much awake, but it was the reverse sometime earlier. While Jesus had been teaching them or showing them that he is their – and our – Lord and Savior – were they asleep? Was I asleep or not listening?

 

[2^nd   “DISTRESS”]

          There is distress on the boat. The disciples, to their credit, do believe that Jesus can get them out of this trouble and distress. Their call out to him is both a Profession of Faith and Prayer of the Faithful.

          But, when the storm is ended it’s not just time to put up their feet and say “thanks be to God”, but also to recognize they are being sent out – you and I are being sent out on mission.

          In a moment of distress, I myself may have a tendency to say too much in feeling desperate or troubled. And, while it is important for all us to have people to confide in, sometimes the thorn or splinter that I want removed may get pushed in ever deeper as I complain.

          Or, to continue our nautical example, I may go overboard!

__quotes___

          St. Francis de Sales writes:

“Anxiety and fear do not provide solace for our pain but aggravate it, leading us to a kind of breakdown in courage and strength because it appears that our pain has no possible remedy."  (In IV 11)

"Just as internal revolutions and troubles can cause the ruin of a state, so an anxious and troubled heart no longer has the strength to resist the assaults of the enemy." (In IV 11)”

 

[__06__]  Then the question becomes – for me, perhaps for you, why – under stress or in distress – do we have so little faith?

          These are difficult questions, because sometimes what is troubling us is not that the actual distress of the situation, but perhaps something else entirely.

          Perhaps, what is troubling us is a family relationship in crisis, or a financial difficulty, or a health concern. It is at that moment when we need God and God’s prayer. We are called to pray.

          The moment of distress becomes a trigger that may cause us to want to, as they say in the Navy, abandon ship. Or, we become very concerned – I may become very concerned about how this distress is going to affect me individually.

          The disciples – while they might be easily “labeled” as worriers … as we know, usually a “label” does not tell the whole story.

          On a positive note, they recognize – together that they are all affected. It is not just one – but all of them together – crying out to Jesus for help. And, this episode affirms that Jesus comes as a ransom for the many, i.e., as rescuer for the many who call upon him. That’s you, me.

          There are many calling out to Jesus.

 

[__07__]     So, we are also called to be “on board” in our faith journey.

          Our faith invites to consider that we have also been “drilled”, we have been taught and experienced God’s goodness in our lives. While I am not nearly where I need to be in my own faith journey, I am grateful for the gifts God has given me in the priesthood, teaching me about trusting that – as we read in Romans 8:28 – all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose. This applies not only to the pleasures of life, but also the inconveniences, tragedies, distresses.

          Yes, it is true, sometimes, we may forget the DRILL, or we may not realize that we know the DRILL and then we need help to get through the DISTRESS.

 

[__08__]     At such a time, we need DIRECTION.  In the midst of a crisis, there may be little that we can do to change our circumstances.

          In the case of the Titanic passenger rescue by a much smaller ship, the captain of the much smaller could not change the circumstances, but could make the very best of what his resources were.

          And, this is often what we do in an act of faith. We not only ask for God’s help, but we also cooperate with his help.

          Jesus calms the storm to give his disciples the message not that Jesus can control the weather, but that he is the Lord of life and death.  Each day, in our faith journey, we are preparing not only so that we can survive today’s thunderstorm or flood, but so that we will be ready to meet Jesus when we die.

          Also, Jesus is calming the storm not only to enable the 12 Apostles to be secure, but also so that the can go on to be help others to be rescued if not from storminess, then from sinfulness and brokenness.

          The captain of the ship that rescued the Titanic had a much smaller, simpler, humbler boat.  While the Titanic was a luxury liner for many wealthy passengers, the rescue boat was a simpler boat carrying Hungarian immigrants.

          The captain of the rescue boat was only 42 years old and had been captain for only 3 months.

          With the captain were 700 passengers, 150 of them elderly American tourists and most of the rest former emigrants making a visit home.

          After reaching the place where the iceberg was and the Titanic was, the rescue ship had nearly double the passengers.

          We pray for faith and to cooperate with God’s will not only so that we will be saved, but so that the whole world may now the God’s ways, in terms of his DRILL and lessons for his, in times of real DISTRESS, and in the DIRECTION of God’s mercy, so that we all may be saved.

[__fin__]