Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 95 (NAB Translation)(Jerusalem Bible Translation)
Reading 1
Job 38:1, 8-11
This week’s first reading from the prophet Job is a dramatic reminder of our place as creatures. We are all created beings, products and children of the creator that willed us into existence. Like Job, we feel the urge to complain when things don’t go the way we want them to go, but God puts us in our place. We don’t have His knowledge and understanding. His ways are not our ways.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 107:23-24, 25-26, 28-29, 30-31
- (1b) Give thanks to the Lord, his love is everlasting.
Reading 2
2 Corinthians 5:14-17
This week’s second reading is from St Paul’s letter to the Corinthians to remind them of the higher standards He calls us to live. We have to work to love and serve each other rather than bicker and judge our neighbors. If we are baptized, we cannot live for ourselves any longer, we need to be oriented outward to those around us in a sacrificial way.
This is the difficult part of being a Christian, but St Paul reminds us that His graces provides.
Alleluia Luke 7:16
- Alleluia, alleluia.
A great prophet has risen in our midst,
God has visited his people.
Gospel
Mark 4:35-41
This week Gospel from St Mark is a beautiful and familiar story of Jesus calming the storm. In the midst of the frightening storm, the Apostles were overcome with fear even though they had Jesus in the boat with them. At the moment that they cried out to Him for help, He came to their aid. Jesus then questions their doubt.
The Lord is kind and merciful, always desiring what is best for us. Sometimes, like with Job, it’s not the way they we expect, but the Lord will not abandoned us. Trust in Him, and call upon His name.
Gospel Meditation from Bishop Vásquez
Reflection question
Astonished by Jesus’ power over the elements, the apostles begin to believe that he is the Messiah. We are no strangers to the forces and destruction of the elements. Have you offered prayers or donations to those affected by the Memorial Day flood and tornadoes?
