YEAR II: HOMILY FOR SATURDAY OF THE 3RD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME (1)

YEAR II: HOMILY FOR SATURDAY OF THE 3RD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

HOMILY THEME: BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD

BY: Fr. Benny Tuazon

 

HOMILY: (Mk. 4:35-41) Saturday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time

In today’s Gospel we have Jesus on a boat seemingly unmindful of the danger of being overturned and broken by the strong waves and the violent squall. The apostles were appalled by His attitude. They felt He did not care about what may happen to them. They were, of course, wrong. Awaken by His apostles, He rebuked the wind and commanded the sea to be quiet and still! The wind and the sea followed. And the apostles were amazed and in awe!

Jesus is Lord! He is Lord of Creation, wind and sea included. Whenever a boat at sea is part of a bible story, it always refer to the Church. the People of God undergoing a lot of challenges. This certifies that the life of faith of the faithful is not a picnic. There will always be challenges and distractions. Our journey will be full of temptations, tribulations and even failures. But we are not without company. We have the best company in Jesus, the Son of God and Lord of all Creation. We need not be terrified. Our faith will see us through because we have a God who has control over all, nature included. He can afford to sleep and we need not worry.

Pope Francis once gave that message to the victims of Tacloban. It was the same message being given to the families of the fallen 44 SAF officers who were ambushed and massacred in Maguindanao. We can even include the victims of the Taal volcano eruption. At present, it is also relevant to the novel corona virus crisis. The tragedies were strong storms to the sailing boat.

Like the apostles they were on the brink of hopelessness due to what happened. Death is painful. Death separates. Death tempts us to hopelessness. But death be not proud because it is not the end. It maybe the end of life on earth but it continues. Death is part of being alive.

No, it does not mean that we glorify death. It does not mean that it is okay to die. It also does not mean that we just accept it without a fight. The resurrection had defanged it. Death has met its death in the resurrection. Jesus reminds us to have faith and hope because He is with us always.

Throughout the experience of life, death included, Jesus accompanies and consoles us. That alone gives us the reason to also be quiet and still amidst life’s turmoils and difficulties.

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