Fr Jack SJ MD: Getting Through the Storm: Homily for the 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jb 38:1, 8-11

107:23-31

Mk 35-41

The image of stormy seas brings the first reading, the psalm, and the gospel together.

The first reading from Job is the beginning of the final part of the long book. The Jewish Study Bible titles this section “The Lord’s Speeches to Job and Job’s Responses.” The reading is discontinuous, beginning as it does with verse 1 and then jumping to verses 8 to 11. God asks Job, who was demanding explanations, if he was there when the Lord created the world, when the Lord set the limits on the sea and determined where the waters might go.

It is fascinating reading particularly in view of some of the scare tactics of global warming enthusiasts who have replaced the global freezing enthusiasts of my youth. No, we were not there either when God placed limits on the sea,

determined how the climate will evolve, or anything else. We will never comprehend it.

Today’s Gospel includes the narrative of one of Jesus’ “nature miracles.” There are many fewer nature miracles, such as the calming of the sea, than there are healing miracles. The late John Meier counts eight nature miracles compared with twenty-three healing or exorcism miracles. However, the nature miracles have a similar effect as the healing miracles on those who witness them.

None of the miracles recorded in scripture were meant to produce faith where there was none. Rather, the miracles strengthened the faith of those who already possessed it, nurtured it, but who were also questioning. Without questions faith cannot mature. The questions are the odd thing about the miracle narratives.

We just heard the apostle’s question in response to the calming of the storm:

“They were filled with great awe and said to one another, ‘Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?’” The miracle forced them to perceive Jesus

in a different way and to begin to understand His power.

The question of ‘who is this?’ came from those who were closest to Jesus, who received instruction from Him, those whom we assume had solid faith in him . . .

until they didn’t, until the weaknesses of that faith were revealed.

Miracles are sometimes problems for us as well both when they happen and when they don’t happen. Do they engender questions, do they enhance faith,

or do they sow the seeds of doubt?

Michael Casey, an Australian Trappist monk writes, “Faith has to grapple constantly with the doubts we may experience when we hear the words of the poet Robert Browning, ‘God is in his heaven—all’s right with the world.’

“Faith means letting go of our ambition to control, understand, or even cope with what happens. Faith means releasing our anxieties into God’s hands . . .The fact that I cannot comprehend the logic of events means simply that my intellect is limited. “

Faith does not mean knowing God’s mind. Faith does not mean controlling God.

Faith does not mean receiving or even deserving an explanation, to say nothing of a miracle.

Faith does not shield us from storms or trauma. It does not guarantee that life will go smoothly nor does it protect against the pain of loss, illness or death.

Faith is an umbrella over all of these, helping us to endure. Faith allows us to sing with the psalmist:

“They rejoiced that they were calmed,
and he brought them to their desired haven.
Let them give thanks to the LORD for his kindness
and his wondrous deeds to the children of men.”

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A couple of busy weeks approaching. AM taking a few days off over the weekendn of 12-16 July and won't be posting anything. At the end of August it will be retreat. Definitely not posting anything then.

The photos are from Maribor, Slovenia, the second largest city. I enjoyed the time I was able to spend there and, of course, wandered with the camera. Had I been able to return to Slovenia for the long term I would have been happy to be stationed in Maribor.