THE MYSTERIOUS AND INSCRUTABLE WAYS OF GOD
First Reading: Job 38: 1 and 8-11
Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5: 14-17
Gospel Reading: Mark 4: 35-41
*First reading is from the book of Job. Numerous sufferings faced by Job are described in detail. The Lord God reveals to Job that His ways are mysterious and incomprehensible to humans. Job was asked by the Lord God regarding the various mysteries of the universe. He was unable to answer satisfactorily to any of the questions put by the Lord God regarding the universe and its complexities. Finally Job accepted the Lord God's mysterious plans and totally subjected himself to all that the Lord God wanted him to do.
*Second reading is from the second letter of St. Paul to Corinthians. Paul explains to the Christian community in Corinth and to us that Christ's redeeming love has saved us. To be part of Christ is to be part of the new creation that Christ died for. Paul invites everyone of us to live a Christ-centered life and not a self-centered one.
Peace, be still: Jesus' command over the powers of nature. Today's Gospel reading is from St. Mark. A detailed account of how Jesus calmed the rough sea and the wind is given. Jesus and His disciples were travelling across the sea in a boat after a tiring day's work. Being tired and exhausted, Jesus soon slept in the stern of the boat. While traveling, a great storm arose and the boat was on the point of sinking due to the rough sea and the wind. The disciples were totally frightened and lost all hope. They begged Jesus to save them from the life-threatening situation. Jesus then got up and commanded the sea and the wind. There was a great calm after that. The question Jesus put to the disciples is very relevant. "Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?" Jesus did allow the storm to trouble the faith of His disciples. But He was in their midst helping them to come through it. When we are faced with storms in our daily lives, we too will definitely hear the gentle voice of the Lord calming us. "Fear not, for I am with you." Then the waves of fear will subside and the rays of hope will shine on us too. Today Jesus asks each one of us to do what He did for the disciples. That is to make ourselves available to persons who have lost hope, who are caught up in the middle of storms of life especially in these pandemic times. Now it is our turn to give courage and strength and help such persons to come through it.
"Peace begins with a smile." - St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
"First keep peace with yourself, then you can also bring peace to others." - Thomas A Kempis
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