Don Bosco Philippines South Province

Homily on the 12th Sunday in OT, 23 June 2024, FSpIF Chapel, Talamban

We all fear natural calamities. While in some places these may be quite rare, here in our country they have for the longest time been part and parcel of our lives. They come and strike us in many different forms and quite often they are very destructive, like the typhoons, storm surges, floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, drought, pestilence and epidemics.

In the land of Jesus people also dreaded such natural calamities which came in a variety of forms. In fact the earliest calamity recorded in the Old Testament could be the La Nina which brought with it the great flood and almost wiped out the human race during the time of Noah. In front of these earthly realities people usually felt extremely helpless. And many times these were seen to be a punishment from the almighty God, Creator of heaven and earth.

Today we celebrate the Twelfth Sunday in the ordinary time of the Church. The gospel passage we have heard today sounds very thrilling as it is full of action. It shows the relentless power of nature over men but at the same time the much greater power of Jesus over it. One day during his public ministry, Jesus, upon his request, was taken by his disciples to the other side of the lake. It was nearly evening and Jesus had just spent the whole day, preaching and teaching a large crowd of disciples that gathered around him by the shore. And so by that time he must have been very tired and exhausted that during the crossing, he quickly fell asleep at the back of the boat while lying on a cushion.

The most thrilling part came when all of a sudden the sea became very turbulent with very strong waves and violent winds tossing their boat up and down, right and left. Overcome by fright and fear all of them started to panic, except Jesus who remained undisturbed in his sleep. And so when the disciples saw their master still sound asleep, they woke him up. And when Jesus woke up he immediately commanded the winds and the waves, saying “Quiet! Be Still!” Then suddenly the wind subsided and there was great calm, to the great amazement of his disciples.

What could the Lord be telling us through this story?

First Jesus is truly human. Like anyone of us he experienced being tired and exhausted. And so whenever we experience fatigue and exhaustion in life or maybe after a whole day’s work we can be comforted and re-energized by the thought that we are not journeying alone; Jesus is with us, accompanying us in whatever we might be going through.

Second, Jesus is divine. Despite the seemingly dangerous and uncontrollable situation being brought about by a destructive calamity during his time, he remained calm and unperturbed. because he knew His Father in heaven was still in control of everything. With one word or two, he commanded the powerful storm, the strong winds and waves to be quiet and be still and they quickly subsided. Therefore, we should fear nothing in this world, not even the most powerful calamity that threatens our human lives.

There are however several questions that have popped up in the gospel story. First, in the height of the storm in the middle of the lake, the disciples cried to Jesus, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing? Does it not matter to you that we are going to drown?” Could this also be the same question or complaint we raise against God whenever we are in crisis, in trouble, in trial or in tribulation? Such a desperate question could only be a manifestation of a lack of faith.

Connected with this is the second question that popped up in the story. And it came from Jesus, somehow reprimanding his fearful disciples: “Why are you so terrified? Why are you lacking in faith?”

There are times when we too find ourselves in difficult and trying times, and feeling helplessly frightened and fearful, we cry to the Lord in despair. I guess all these fear reveal only one thing about ourselves: we still do not know our Lord Jesus deeply enough. We still lack the intensity of faith and trust that will keep us unperturbed in the most difficult and terrifying situations.

Finally the third question that popped up in our story is also related to this, and it came from the mouth of his disciples: “Who can this man be that even the winds and the waves obey him?” Meeting Jesus and seeing what he can do in the most turbulent times of our lives should fill us with great curiosity and lead us to get to know him more deeply. And as we get to know Jesus more deeply, our faith and trust in him grows firmer and stronger. And the more we experience his power in our lives the greater is our fascination for him leading us to follow him even more closely and more faithfully than before.

Brothers and sisters, as we continue this spiritual journey in the Ordinary Time of the Church, let us strive to get to know Jesus more deeply by reading and listening more reflectively on his Word until our faith grows to full maturity day in and day out, so that when we have to face the most difficult trials, troubles and tribulations we may remain unperturbed, undefeated by evil.

Remember this: Only by faith can the worst calamity become our greatest serenity. GiGsss!

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