HOMILY: 12TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME – YEAR B
HOMILY: 12TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME – YEAR B
HOMILY THEME: SAILING ON STORMY WATERS
BY: Bishop Gerald Musa
Job 38: 1 -11, 2 Cor 5: 14 -17, Mark 4: 35–41
One common expression that Nigerian Political leaders and security officers love to use in times of crisis is: “We are on top of the situation.” Normally, they use these words to calm the fears and anxiety of people. In the world, we are surrounded by many forces, which include natural, evil and good forces. The sea is among the strongest forces created by God and upon which his throne floats (Psalm 29:10; Ezekiel 1:26). Some ancient cultures present the sea as one of the natural forces that battle against God. The apocalyptic books in the Bible such as the books of Daniel and Revelation speak about the emergence of an anti-Christ who will oppose God in the last days (Daniel 7:3; Revelation 13:1).
ALSO RECOMMENDED: HOMILY: 12TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME – YEAR B
Despite the opposition of natural forces, scriptures provide ample examples of how God demonstrates his power and might by subduing opposing and chaotic forces. The fourth chapter of the Gospel of Mark gives a vivid account of how Jesus rebuked the wind and the rage on the Lake of Galilee. After Jesus had preached extensively by the sea, he decided to cross over to the other side. The Sea of Galilee is a beautiful lake and Israel’s largest lake and it stretches 13 miles in length and as wide as 7 miles. Unlike the Dead Sea, which is barren, salty and lifeless, the Sea of Galilee is alive, sweet, fresh and full of fish. However, because the sea is way below sea level, it tends to be turbulent. It was therefore not surprising that while Jesus and his disciples were crossing over, “A violent squall came up 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?”
The disciples were visibly frightened like any of us would be in a life-threatening situation like that. The boat was already full of water or as the Greek translation of Mark 4:37 graphically says, “Ta kumata epeballen eis to ploion” (the waves beat into the boat). Jesus woke up and promptly “Rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!” (Siopa! Pephimoso! – Greek translation). The wind ceased and there was great calm.” Jesus performed a great miracle by rebuking the wind and the raging sea. On different occasions God has saved his people from the destructive effects of water, beginning from the days of Noah in the Book of Genesis, to the parting of the Red Sea in the Book of Exodus. Furthermore, Jesus demonstrated the power of God over water when he walked upon the sea (Mark 6:45); moreover, the book of Revelation shows us how God subdued the ferocious beast emerging from the sea by casting this beast into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20). Jesus asserted his sovereignty and divine power over nature and evil when he rebuked the wind and commanded the sea to be quiet. There is no doubt that God rules over the surging of the sea (Psalm 89:10) and he is more powerful than the roar of many waters (Psalm 93:4).
And what has the Gospel story of calming the sea got to do with us? The words of St. Augustine link the Gospel story to our everyday life. He says, “We are sailing in this life as through a sea, and the wind rises, and storms of temptation are not wanting.” So, how are we able to handle the crises and storms of life that confront us in the raging sea of the world? Sometimes, we experience crises in our personal lives, in our relationships with others, in our families, workplaces, institutions or organisations. Where do we run to during the nights of afflictions, crises, tragedies, pain, and poverty? During such frightening moments, we cry, shout desperately for solutions and ask poignant questions.
Job found himself in a frightening situation of sickness and his distress he asked God several questions and God decided to answer Job out of the storm. God’s response to Job was like this: “If I was able to shut the raging mighty sea within doors and set a limit for it, can I not control your little situation?” Job came to realize that it is only God who can calm the turbulent situations and passions of our lives in the same way that he controls the sea. The sea may roar and rage, but by his grace, it does not exceed its bounds. This is to say that evil will not prevail over good.
Note that even when the tempest was raging in the sea, the disciples did not jump out of the boat. This explains why we must not give up or quit in desperate situations or when we find ourselves sailing in the stormy waters of life. The solution to community crisis is not necessarily to jump out of the family, group, organization or faith community, but to seek for immediate solution. The disciples called to the Lord in their trouble and he rescued them. Likewise, Jesus prayed fervently and earnestly in the garden of Gethsemane when he was facing the threat of death and he found peace only when he submitted totally to the will of God. I recall the words of the first stanza of the song “Count Your Blessings” which says:
When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Like Jesus and his disciples, we are tempests tossed in the sea of life, especially when we attempt to cross over to the other side. To cross over is to explore new ways, to cross over is to break new grounds, to cross over is to encounter peace and to cross over is to have a fresh perspective of life as we experience the unshakeable power of God.
FOR A SIMILAR HOMILY, CLICK HERE >>>>>
