Jesus Calms The Storm

JUNE 28, 2022, TUESDAY

Memorial of Saint Irenaeus, Bishop and Martyr (Red)

CYCLE C - YEAR II

Lectionary: 378

Reading I

Am 3:1-8; 4:11-12

Hear this word, O children of Israel, that the LORD pronounces over you,

over the whole family that I brought up from the land of Egypt:

            You alone have I favored,

                        more than all the families of the earth;

            Therefore I will punish you

                        for all your crimes.

            Do two walk together

                        unless they have agreed?

            Does a lion roar in the forest

                        when it has no prey?

            Does a young lion cry out from its den

                        unless it has seized something?

            Is a bird brought to earth by a snare

                        when there is no lure for it?

            Does a snare spring up from the ground

                        without catching anything?

            If the trumpet sounds in a city,

                        will the people not be frightened?

            If evil befalls a city,

                        has not the LORD caused it?

            Indeed, the Lord GOD does nothing

                        without revealing his plan

                        to his servants, the prophets.

            The lion roars—

                        who will not be afraid!

            The Lord GOD speaks—

                        who will not prophesy!

            I brought upon you such upheaval

                        as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah:

                        you were like a brand plucked from the fire;

            Yet you returned not to me,

                        says the LORD.

            So now I will deal with you in my own way, O Israel!

                        and since I will deal thus with you,

                        prepare to meet your God, O Israel.

Responsorial Psalm

5:4b-6a, 6b-7, 8

R.        (9a)  Lead me in your justice, Lord.

At dawn I bring my plea expectantly before you.

For you, O God, delight not in wickedness;

            no evil man remains with you;

            the arrogant may not stand in your sight.

R.        Lead me in your justice, Lord.

You hate all evildoers;

            you destroy all who speak falsehood;

The bloodthirsty and the deceitful

            the LORD abhors.

R.        Lead me in your justice, Lord.

But I, because of your abundant mercy,

            will enter your house;

I will worship at your holy temple

            in fear of you, O LORD.

R.        Lead me in your justice, Lord.

 

Alleluia

Psalm 130:5

R.        Alleluia, alleluia.

I trust in the LORD;

my soul trusts in his word.

R.        Alleluia, alleluia.

 

Gospel

Mt 8:23-27

As Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him.

Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea,

so that the boat was being swamped by waves;

but he was asleep.

They came and woke him, saying,

“Lord, save us!  We are perishing!”

He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?”

Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea,

and there was great calm.

The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this,

whom even the winds and the sea obey?”

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

This scene is often pictured and is a favourite for times of stress and of darkness - in the storms of life. We may feel Jesus is asleep, not near us. He woke at the moment he was really needed, and calmed the waters. In prayer he calms us too, maybe not immediately but when we really need him he is there, a hand outstretched to save us from anxiety, darkness and despair. The Lord of wind and sea, the one in whom all was created is the one who creates calm and confidence in everything of life.

PRAYER:

Lord save us, we are perishing!' We are feeling swamped by the waves, while God apparently sleeps, not really interested or aware of our lot. I let my look rest on the desperate situations in my present life, or that of the world, and let this cry well up from the depths of my heart.

Jesus Calms The Storm

JANUARY 29, 2022, SATURDAY
Saturday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time (Green)
CYCLE C - YEAR II
Lectionary: 322

Reading I
2 Sm 12:1-7a, 10-17

The LORD sent Nathan to David, and when he came to him,

Nathan said: “Judge this case for me!

In a certain town there were two men, one rich, the other poor.

The rich man had flocks and herds in great numbers.

But the poor man had nothing at all 

except one little ewe lamb that he had bought.

He nourished her, and she grew up with him and his children.

She shared the little food he had 

and drank from his cup and slept in his bosom.

She was like a daughter to him.

Now, the rich man received a visitor, 

but he would not take from his own flocks and herds 

to prepare a meal for the wayfarer who had come to him.

Instead he took the poor man’s ewe lamb 

and made a meal of it for his visitor.”

David grew very angry with that man and said to him: 

“As the LORD lives, the man who has done this merits death!

He shall restore the ewe lamb fourfold 

because he has done this and has had no pity.”

Then Nathan said to David:  “You are the man!

Thus says the LORD God of Israel:

‘The sword shall never depart from your house, 

because you have despised me 

and have taken the wife of Uriah to be your wife.’

Thus says the LORD:

‘I will bring evil upon you out of your own house.

I will take your wives while you live to see it, 

and will give them to your neighbor.

He shall lie with your wives in broad daylight.

You have done this deed in secret, 

but I will bring it about in the presence of all Israel, 

and with the sun looking down.’”

Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.”

Nathan answered David: “The LORD on his part has forgiven your sin:

you shall not die.

But since you have utterly spurned the LORD by this deed, 

the child born to you must surely die.”

Then Nathan returned to his house.

The LORD struck the child that the wife of Uriah had borne to David, 

and it became desperately ill.

David besought God for the child.

He kept a fast, retiring for the night 

to lie on the ground clothed in sackcloth.

The elders of his house stood beside him 

urging him to rise from the ground; but he would not, 

nor would he take food with them.

Responsorial Psalm
51:12-13, 14-15, 16-17

R.        (12a)  Create a clean heart in me, O God.

A clean heart create for me, O God,

            and a steadfast spirit renew within me.

Cast me not out from your presence,

            and your Holy Spirit take not from me.

R.        Create a clean heart in me, O God.

Give me back the joy of your salvation,

            and a willing spirit sustain in me.

I will teach transgressors your ways,

            and sinners shall return to you.

R.        Create a clean heart in me, O God.

Free me from blood guilt, O God, my saving God;

            then my tongue shall revel in your justice.

O Lord, open my lips,

            and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.

R.        Create a clean heart in me, O God.

Alleluia
Jn 3:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son,

so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Mk 4:35-41

On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples:

“Let us cross to the other side.”

Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was.

And other boats were with him.

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?”

He woke up,

rebuked the wind, 

and said to the sea, “Quiet!  Be still!”

The wind ceased and there was great calm.

Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified?

Do you not yet have faith?”

They were filled with great awe and said to one another,

“Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

Today’s Gospel story highlights the stormy journey our faith has to make today. How easily our sense of Jesus’ love and presence is drowned out by a multiplicity of voices. As a result, this lessening or loss of faith gives way to fear. At such times he may be asleep in the boat but his love never leaves us.

For your prayer talk to Jesus about how he may appear to be asleep but is awake and active in the way you accept, appreciate and care for those who people your day.

PRAYER:

Lord, there are times when I need to hear your voice ordering: ‘Peace! Be still!’ There is no basis for my fear. You are with me and I trust you. I need to turn away from the howling of the wind and disturbing noises, and wait for your comforting presence.

Jesus Calms The Storm

June 20, 2021, Sunday
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Green)
CYCLE B - YEAR I
Lectionary: 95

Reading I
Jb 38:1, 8-11

The Lord addressed Job out of the storm and said:
    Who shut within doors the sea,
        when it burst forth from the womb;
    when I made the clouds its garment
        and thick darkness its swaddling bands?
    When I set limits for it
        and fastened the bar of its door,
    and said: Thus far shall you come but no farther,
        and here shall your proud waves be stilled!

Responsorial Psalm
107:23-24, 25-26, 28-29, 30-31

R. (1b) Give thanks to the Lord, his love is everlasting.

or:

R. Alleluia.

They who sailed the sea in ships,
    trading on the deep waters,
These saw the works of the LORD
    and his wonders in the abyss.

R. Give thanks to the Lord, his love is everlasting.

or:

R. Alleluia.

His command raised up a storm wind
    which tossed its waves on high.
They mounted up to heaven; they sank to the depths;
    their hearts melted away in their plight.

R. Give thanks to the Lord, his love is everlasting.

or:

R. Alleluia.

They cried to the LORD in their distress;
    from their straits he rescued them,
He hushed the storm to a gentle breeze,
    and the billows of the sea were stilled.

R. Give thanks to the Lord, his love is everlasting.

or:

R. Alleluia.

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.

R. Give thanks to the Lord, his love is everlasting.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Reading II
2 Cor 5:14-17

Brothers and sisters:
The love of Christ impels us,
once we have come to the conviction that one died for all;
therefore, all have died.
He indeed died for all,
so that those who live might no longer live for themselves
but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
Consequently, from now on we regard no one according to the flesh;
even if we once knew Christ according to the flesh,
yet now we know him so no longer.
So whoever is in Christ is a new creation:
the old things have passed away;
behold, new things have come.

Alleluia
Lk 7:16

R.    Alleluia, alleluia.

A great prophet has risen in our midst 
God has visited his people.

R.    Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL
Mk 4:35-41

On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples:
“Let us cross to the other side.”
Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was.
And other boats were with him.
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?”
He woke up,
rebuked the wind,
and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!”
The wind ceased and there was great calm.
Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified?
Do you not yet have faith?”
They were filled with great awe and said to one another,
“Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”

REFLECTION:

Today’s Gospel story highlights the stormy journey our faith has to make today. How easily our sense of Jesus’ love and presence is drowned out by a multiplicity of voices. As a result, this lessening or loss of faith gives way to fear. At such times he may be asleep in the boat but his love never leaves us.

For your prayer talk to Jesus about how he may appear to be asleep but is awake and active in the way you accept, appreciate, and care for those who people your day.

PRAYER:

Lord, there are times when I need to hear your voice ordering: ‘Peace! Be still!’ There is no basis for my fear. You are with me and I trust you. I need to turn away from the howling of the wind and disturbing noises and wait for your comforting presence.

Jesus Calms The Storm

January 30, 2021, Saturday

Saturday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time (Green)

CYCLE B - YEAR I

RDGS: HEB 11:1-2. 8-19/ LK 1:69-70. 71-72. 73-75

GOSPEL: MK 4:35-41

On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples:

“Let us cross to the other side.”

Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was.

And other boats were with him.

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?”

He woke up,

rebuked the wind,

and said to the sea, “Quiet!  Be still!”

The wind ceased and there was a great calm.

Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified?

Do you not yet have faith?”

They were filled with great awe and said to one another,

“Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

Today’s Gospel story highlights the stormy journey our faith has to make today. How easily our sense of Jesus’ love and presence is drowned out by a multiplicity of voices. As a result, this lessening or loss of faith gives way to fear. At such times he may be asleep in the boat but his love never leaves us.

For your prayer talk to Jesus about how he may appear to be asleep but is awake and active in the way you accept, appreciate, and care for those who people your day.

PRAYER:

Lord, there are times when I need to hear your voice ordering: ‘Peace! Be still!’ There is no basis for my fear. You are with me and I trust you. I need to turn away from the howling of the wind and disturbing noises and wait for your comforting presence.