Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Also Read: Mass Readings for 23 June 2024 Homily for 23 June 2024 – Sunday
First Reading: Job 38: 1, 8-11
Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind: “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? (1)
In the previous chapters Elihu one of Job’s friends, rebukes Job and the other friends; reminding them of God’s goodness and justice. Job comes across as self-righteous, as he proclaims how he has lived an upright life!
Now in the passage today, we hear The Lord’s response to Job! The Lord God questions Job rhetorically! “Gird up your loins like a man, I will question you, and you shall declare to me.” (v.3) “The words without knowledge are those that darken counsel!” We must beware of boasting about our self-righteousness! Surely we cannot match up to so many saints and holy people before us! Being Christians we are anyways called to live upright lives! Are we perfect? No! So then, how can we think any more highly of ourselves? The Lord loves us, as we are; and that must suffice us to live humbly.
In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 107: 23-26, 28-31
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out from their distress; he made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad because they had quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven. Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind. (28-31)
Praise the Lord, Alleluia!
Second Reading: Second Corinthians 5: 14-17
From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! (16-17)
The apostles knew Christ in the flesh! St. Paul too experienced Christ personally and therefore was able to testify! Once they knew Christ face to face, but after His ascension and the Pentecost; they knew Him in the Divine incarnation! If repentant, we return to the Lord, we no longer remain old but turn a new creation. The repentant and humble heart is a new creation; therefore we must see ourselves and others in this new view! Being humble requires being bold and vice versa. When we are humble, we are bold enough to acknowledge our failings! When we are bold, we are humble enough to obey the prompting of the Dear Holy Spirit!
In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Alleluia: Luke 7: 16
Fear seized all of them; and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen among us!” and “God has looked favorably on his people!”
The widow’s son at Nain was brought back to life! Alleluia, Glory to God! Amen.
Gospel: Mark 4: 35-41
He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. (39)
He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” (40)
If in a world filled with strife, we still see Peace! If all around us we see discord, yet we have peace in our hearts! If so, we have Christ at the stern of our boat! Are we still afraid? Jesus questions us today, as He questioned Job: “Have you still no faith?”
After witnessing Christ’s work in such powerful and wondrous ways in our lives and in the lives of others; we must profess our faith in concrete actions today! In the little daily moments of doubt let us speak the scriptures into our lives. Let us persist in reading the Lord’s Word first thing in the morning, so that during the day while we face struggles or temptations; we are reminded of what the Lord said to us in the morning! Let us bring the Word of God to our Children, into our families, and into our extended world. Let us keep speaking to the Lord in tongues as we go about our day. The enemy does not understand the tongues we speak with our Lord. Let us live in The Lord’s Word, even as we receive Him daily into our hearts through the Holy Eucharist!
Let us live by faith and not by (human) sight! Let us walk and soar on eagle’s wings in Christ Jesus, HE who was, HE who is, and HE who is to Come! In Jesus’ name. Amen!
