YEAR B: HOMILY FOR 12TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME
HOMILY THEME: TRUST IN GOD EVEN IN YOUR MOMENTS OF STORM
BY: Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke, ISch
Job 38: 1 -11, 2 Cor 5: 14 -17, Mark 4: 35–41
Today’s gospel reading (Mark 4:35-41) begins by telling us that as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples: “Let us cross over to the other side.” This moment of crossing over symbolizes a critical point in our spiritual journey where we move from one phase of life to another, often facing unforeseen challenges and storms. This crossing over is a time of transition, growth, and testing. Just as the disciples encountered a fierce storm while crossing the sea, we too encounter difficulties and trials that test our faith and resilience when we are crossing over from one phase of life to another.
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When the disciples encountered the storm as they were crossing over, their first reaction was to complain against Jesus: “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:38). This statement shows the fear and desperation of the disciples during the storm. It reveals their lack of faith and understanding of Jesus’ divine nature and power over the natural world as revealed to Job in the first reading (Job 38:8-11). The disciples of Jesus, despite having witnessed his miracles, still doubted his care and ability to save them in their time of crisis. This moment highlights their human vulnerability and the struggle to trust God fully in the face of danger.
The experience of the disciples is not different from our own experience. Like the disciples, we too face storms in our lives. These storms can be personal crises, challenges in our faith, fears, uncertainties, or trials that shake our trust in God. Do we panic like the disciples, or do we trust in God’s sovereignty? Just as the disciples were terrified and questioned if Jesus really cared for them, we may also find ourselves doubting God’s presence and care during our difficult times. Like the disciples, our first reaction when we find ourselves in a drowning situation, when storms rage in our life, is usually to think that Jesus does not care or that he has abandoned us. The experience of the disciples reminds us that the presence of storm in our lives does not mean the absence of Jesus.
The attitude of the disciples challenges us greatly. In that difficult moment, they turned to Jesus for help. In your own difficult moments, when you find yourself at the verge of being downed by the different waves and storms of life, to whom do you turn to? Rarely do we turn to Jesus. We do not turn to Jesus because we often feel that Jesus delays in answering us. When the disciples called on Jesus, he rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” and at once, the wind ceased and there was a great calm. Then he asked his disciples, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” Jesus’ response highlights his divine authority over creation and serves as a reminder of his constant presence and power in our lives. He calls us to have faith even in the midst of our storms.
Dear friend, in our day-to-day lives, we face different storms. However, in those moments, we are called to deepen our faith and trust in God, knowing that he is in control and his love for us abides forever (Psalm 107). In those moments of crossing over, we are called to trust deeply in God’s presence and sovereignty, believing that he will guide us through the turbulence to the calm on the other side. These experiences, though daunting, are opportunities for spiritual strengthening and profound encounters with the divine. In times of trouble, let us remember the words of Jesus: “Do not be afraid. Just have faith.” May we find peace in the knowledge that the One who calmed the storm; who hushed the storm to a gentle breeze, and the billows of the sea were stilled is always with us, guiding us through every challenge we face.
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