HOMILY FOR 3RD WEEK SATURDAY IN ORDINARY TIME / YEAR B

HOMILY FOR 3RD WEEK SATURDAY IN ORDINARY TIME / YEAR B

THEME: WHEN LIFE’S STORM COMES.

BY: FR. KARABARI PAUL

‘Why are you afraid?’

Have you ever been in a really difficult time, and felt like God wasn’t there? Like you were praying hard for a miracle in an impossible situation, but God wasn’t showing up? Our emotions can often make us feel like we are alone. Our situations can be such great storms that all we can see is destruction.

In the Gospel of today (Mark 4:35-41), when the disciples were in the boat and a storm arose, Jesus was asleep. Sleeping through danger can be a sign of great faith. The Psalmist says, “In peace I will both lay myself down and sleep, for you, Yahweh alone, make me live in safety” (Psalm 4:8). However, sleep can also represent passivity in a moment that cries out for an active response. The disciples interpreted Jesus’ sleep as evidence that he didn’t care enough to save them. It might have appeared that He wasn’t in control. The storm was raging, the disciples were scared, and Jesus didn’t seem to be waking up and doing something about it. They woke Him up and said to Him, “Teacher, do you not care if we perish?”

Sometimes, we can find ourselves crying to God, too. The storms in our lives seem to be getting increasingly strong, and we cry to God, trying to get His attention. Like those early disciples, we pray panicked prayers to a God who appears to have abandoned us. “God, don’t you care that we are dying?” But the Father knows our needs and loves us enough even to send his own son to save us. When life is difficult, we need to ensure that our faith prevails over our fears. Jesus rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
There is no doubt that God has the power to calm our storms, too. He is in control of everything and can bring calm just by speaking into the situation. Jesus asked the disciples: ‘Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?’ It’s natural for us to be afraid in stormy situations, but God wants us to have faith in Him. He wants us to trust His goodness and believe that He can calm the storm. He is ultimately in control, so why should we be afraid?

The instruction to cross to the other side came from the Lord, yet they encountered a storm while trying to obey the instruction. We can also encounter storms while trying to obey and follow the Lord. It doesn’t necessarily mean we are taking the wrong route. It means we can’t just stop the storm from coming. Could that not be a lesson that obedience to his command doesn’t stop external aggression, but his presence with us is a necessary shield and buckler. It is true we can’t avoid life’s storm but we can choose where to go when it comes. We must struggle to have Jesus in the same boat with us whenever we sail and call on Him when the storm comes. No situation surprises Him. GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE. May God bless and protect us through Christ Our Lord Amen. I give you the assurance of my daily prayers. Please, stay safe. Good morning

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