Catholic Daily Reading + Reflection (Homily), Sunday, 20 June 2021 – Jesus Rules The Waves Of The Sea

Mass Readings, Reflection – Homily for Sunday June 20, 2021

Twelfth Sunday of the Year (B)
Vestment: Green
Today’s Rosary: The Glorious Mystery
Vespers II of the Twelfth Sunday of the Year
ORLU: Tomorrow is the 13th Anniversary of the episcopal Ordination of Most Revd Augustine T. Ukwuoma, 21st June 2008

Theme of the Sunday: Jesus Rules the Waves of the Sea. The first reading is a kind of introduction to the gospel, so that we can understand the symbolic meaning attached to the sea in the culture of the Jewish people. The gospel shows us a Jesus who rules the waves of the sea and so reveals that he has the power of God. Linked to this main symbolic element we have other significant details: the night, the boat, Jesus asleep, the storm, the direction of the boat. All these elements are rich in meaning. The confidence we have from knowing that Christ is always with us is the theme of the second reading.

The Gloria

When indicated this hymn is either sung or said
Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to people of good will.
We bless you,
we adore you,
we glorify you,
we give you thanks for your great glory,
Lord God, heavenly King,
O God, almighty Father.
Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son,
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us;
you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us.
For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High,
Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

FIRST READING
Here I have prescribed bounds for the sea.
A reading from the Book of Job (Job 38:1, 8-11)

The lord answered Job out of the whirlwind: “Who shut in the sea with doors, when it burst forth from the womb; when I made clouds its garment, and thick darkness its swaddling band; and prescribed bounds for it, and set bars and doors, and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed’?”

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps l07:23-24.25-26.28-29.30-3 I (R. 1)
R/. O give thanks to the Lord for he is good; for his mercy endures forever!
Or: Alleluia.

Some went down to the sea in ships,
to trade on the mighty waters.
These have seen the deeds of the Lord;
the wonders he does in the deep. R.

For he spoke and raised up the storm-wind,
tossing high the waves of the sea
that surged to heaven and dropped to the depths.
Their souls melted away in their distress. R.

Then they cried to the Lord in their need,
and he rescued them from their distress.
He stilled the storm to a whisper,
and the waves of the sea were hushed. R.

They rejoiced because of the calm,
and he led them to the haven they desired.
Let them thank the LORD for his mercy,
his wonders for the children of men. R.

SECOND READING
“Behold, the new has come.”
A reading from the second Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 5 :14- 17)

Brethren: The love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, that those who live might live no longer for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh; even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come.

The word of the Lord.

ALLELUIA Luke 7:16
Alleluia. A great prophet has arisen among us, and God has visited his people. Alleluia.

GOSPEL
“Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey him?”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 4:35-41)

On that day, when evening had come, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go across to the other side.”. And leaving the crowd, they took him with them, just as he was, in the boat. And other boats were with him. And a great storm of wind arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care if we perish?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?” And they were filled with awe, and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey him?”

The Gospel of the Lord.

The Creed (I Believe)

I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL

Why are you so frightened?

PRIEST:
God our Father made the universe, and his Son taught it to obey him. Let us ask the Lord for all the graces for our world, so that it may hear his voice and learn to obey him.

READER:
FOR THOSE AFRAID OF TENSIONS WITHIN THE CHURCH, (pause) let those afraid of change in the Church remember that Jesus is still with the Braque of Peter, and that nothing can overwhelm those who believe and trust in his power to save them. (pause) Lord, we pray to you; and trust you always we pray Oh Lord.

FOR HEADS OF GOVERNMENTS, (pause) let them understand that the real cause of conflict is hidden fear which distorts the truth, and makes people distrustful of each other. (pause) Lord, we pray to you; and trust you always we pray Oh Lord.

FOR THOSE WHO SUFFER FROM FEARS AND PHOBIAS, (pause) let them commit themselves and their lives to a loving Lord, who cares for them, and who will not allow any hard to befall them. (pause) Lord, we pray to you; and trust you always we pray Oh Lord.

FOR GREATER TRUST IN THE LORD IN HIS COMMUNITY, (pause) let us ultimately commit all our worries, financial or otherwise, to the Head of the Church, who is Christ, the Good Shepherd, who, without ceasing, watches over his sheep. (pause) Lord, we pray to you; and trust you always we pray Oh Lord.

In loving silence, we make our private petitions to God our Father, in whom we place our trust.

PRIEST:
Father, your love casts our fear, and in loving trust, we make our prayers to you. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Today’s Reflection

There are so many storms in life that rock us and threaten to throw us out of the boat of life. Job faced some of these storms in his lifetime. But today God reminds us that he is in control of the world. This same control is exercised by Jesus when he calms the raging storm. Such scenarios may remind you of moments when you lost control and had nowhere to go. The good news is that God never loses control or sleeps. He is always with us and, even when the storms of life rage, we must not be afraid, for his presence is there. We can row the boat of our life in confidence, trusting in the loving protection of God. He is the God who will not let us perish.

Personal Devotional

Teach me Lord what you want me to do, and I will obey you faithfully; teach me to serve you with complete devotion… Psalm 86:11

– Lord Jesus, you remained steadfast to the will of thy Father even on the cross of death, help me never to deviate from the will and plan of God for me through my actions and deeds.

– Help me so that your name alone will be adored and glorified.

– May the Virgin Mary, mediatrix of all graces, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

Let Us Pray
Lord, help me to place all my trust in you in times of trial, protect me from the snares of the devil and guide me from utterances from me that are unpleasant to you, through Christ our Lord.