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Texts of the Readings
June 25,
2006
Twelfth
Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)
Betty Jane Lillie, S.C.
Job 38: 1, 8-11
X
Ps 107:23-26, 28-31
X 2 Cor 5:14-17 X
Mk 4:35-41
After the
wonderful feasts we have celebrated in the Easter season we now return to
Ordinary Time. Ordinary Time is that part of the Liturgical Year in which
Christ is with his Church through his Spirit for all time.
The readings resume the consideration of Jesus’ life and
historical ministry, as well as the growth process through which his
followers grew into discipleship. Today’s first reading and the Gospel
reading are linked both by the sea storm theme and by wonder and awe
attached to the power, and thus the identity, of the central figure.
The beginning of the first reading establishes the context
within the storm, or in some versions, the whirlwind. That is a frequent
setting for signaling an appearance of the Lord. Here the Lord will give a
response to Job’s queries about his misfortunes. He will put his response
in the form of rhetorical questions that at times may seem irrelevant, and
at other times even playful. Nevertheless, they are serious; in one
instance the address is sharply ironic. (Job 38:21) Why is Job being
arrogant with the Lord? And in the listeners mind, who is the Lord who
responds to Job?
We move on to the Gospel reading where again the context is that
of a sea storm, or a whirlwind. Such squalls are not unusual on the Lake of
Galilee, and being caught in one is terrifying. Even more, Jesus was
sleeping through it all. A dialogue in three parts ensued. First, the
disciples woke the Master with a question. “Teacher, do you not care
that we are perishing?” Then Jesus spoke to the storm. “Quiet! Be
Still!” The wind ceased and all was calm, and Jesus asked them why they had
no faith. Lastly, the disciples spoke again. “Who then is this whom
even wind and sea obey?” Here we have an instance in which the deeds of
Jesus clearly show who he is, but the text leaves the answer in the minds
and hearts of listeners.
Between these two readings is a passage from Paul’s Letter to
the Corinthian Church making the point that what Jesus has done can be
called a new creation. The discussion revolves around the idea of
death and expresses several different aspects of the subject. Basic to
following the reasoning is the concept of the incorporation of all
Christians into Christ through Baptism. Paul says, “One died for all.”
Therefore, by incorporation into Christ all have died. Death here is to be
taken in the sense of no longer living for oneself, but for Christ, or in
Christ. Even more, Christ was also raised for all, so that all are
incorporated into his resurrection and into the kingdom. In all of that,
Christ’s love impels us, so that whoever is in Christ is a new creation. A
whole new way of living has come into being.
With the Psalmist let us thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
and for his wonderful works for humankind. (Ps 107)
Betty Jane Lillie, S.C.
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