TWELFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B
First Reading: Job 38: 1, 8-11
Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:14-17;
Gospel: Mark 4: 35-41
The French poet and novelist, Victor Hugo is famous for his novel, Hunchback of Notre Dame. He also wrote a story he called “Ninety-Three.” It tells the story of a ship caught up in a dangerous storm on the high sea. At the height of the storm, the frightened sailors heard a terrible crashing sound below the deck. They knew at once that this new sound came from the canon, part of the ship’s cargo that had broken loose. It was moving back and forth with the swaying of the ship, crashing into the side of the ship with terrible impact each time. Knowing that it could cause the ship to sink, two brave sailors volunteered to make the dangerous attempt to retie the loose cannon. They knew the danger of a shipwreck from the cannon was greater than the fury of the storm.
That is how it is with human life. The calming of the storm speaks to us about our lives. Storms of life may blow about us, but it is not these exterior storms that pose the gravest danger. It is the terrible corruption that can exist within us which can overwhelm us. The furious storm outside may be overwhelming but what is going on inside can pose a greater threat to our lives. This is especially true about our spiritual lives. Our only hope lies in conquering by the help of God, that wild enemy within.
This is the very important lesson the apostles learnt on the Sea of Galilee. They thought that danger was outside the boat but they quickly learnt that the real danger lies within the boat, within their very hearts, in a word, their lack of faith. In life, storms are inevitable. Sometimes they will come suddenly and can come in any form. Without faith, our lives like those of the apostles on the Sea of Galilee are at the risk of sinking. Notice that Jesus was present during the storm. The same way, whenever we experience storm in our lives, Jesus is there in the midst of it. He is not far away; He is right there awaiting our prayer. He might seem to be sleeping and not care, but He is only awaiting our prayers.
This passage invites us to search our lives for any threats that might be there. It could be our prayerlessness, it could be a vice we are struggling with, it could be lack of faith as with the apostles. They said to Jesus, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing? This is similar to the questions we ask God in the face of difficulties and storms of life; we question God’s love for us – “don’t you see what is happening to my life?” We assume God does not care. Storm is a symbol of cosmic evil and every kind of evil. Jesus in calming the storm demonstrated his absolute power over cosmic evil and all kinds of evil. Faith teaches us that Jesus is near us at every moment and has absolute power to save us from all evil. He loves us and cares for us.
Today is Father’s Day. We thank God for the gift of our fathers and we honor them in a special way. The Duke of Wellington’s diamond snuff box had vanished after the customary annual dinner for some of his old officers. He handed it around for inspection. Then there was more wine and story−telling, and at last some asked to look at the snuff−box again. “Has any one the snuff−box at present?” asked his lordship, rather anxiously, for as he turned to reach it no snuff−box was to be seen. No one said “yes,” for everyone was sure he had passed it to his neighbor. They thought someone may have slipped the box into his pocket unconsciously and so suggested each guest in turn went to the bottom of one pocket after another, but still no snuff−box. There were no servants at the time so the guests agreed to turn out their pockets. But one officer vehemently objected to the proposal even to the extent of leaving the room. Suspicion naturally fell on him especially since the snuff box was not found with anyone else.
The following year, putting on the same coat as the year before, the duke discovered the diamond snuff-box in his pocket. He searched for the old officer who had been suspected. He found him in a miserable apartment and begged him to come to the palace. After narrating how he found it and apologizing to him, he asked him, “Why did you not agree to what the officers suggested and thus save yourself from this terrible suspicion? Sorrowfully, he answered, ‘because I was a thief, and I could not bear that anyone should discover it! All whom I loved best in the world were lying sick at home, starving for want of the delicacies I could not provide, and I felt as if my heart would break to see my plate heaped with luxuries while they had not so much as a taste! My pocket was full of broken meat scraps, I had saved from my plate to feed my wife and family who at the time were almost dying of hunger. The duke and those around wept with emotion at this love of the family and vowed to make sure the man and his family never lack anything.
Two good lessons may be learned from the story: Never believe any one guilty who is not really proved to be so. Second, never let false shame keep you from confessing the truth, whether trifling or of importance. But this is not my point of telling this story. Like this old officer, our fathers think first about their families and how to provide for them. This old officer laid down his life for his family. That is what it means to be a father. They deserve our love; they deserve our honor.
Happy Sunday and happy Father’s Day
Rev. Fr. Chidi Onwuka msscc