DAILY MASS REFLECTIONS TWELFTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME

 DAILY MASS REFLECTIONS TWELFTH SUNDAY  OF ORDINARY TIME

Greetings brothers and sister, this passage about Jesus calming a storm on the sea can also be found in the other synoptic Gospels. This passage had a big impact on the early Church, and it continues to have a big impact on Christians today. Every generation of humanity has a strong attraction to the sea. Awe, wonder, fear, thrills, and a sense of challenge are all feelings evoked by it. Numerous works in the literary world, including novels, short stories, poems, and works of various genres, discuss the beauty of the sea. The sea conjures up images of nature's primal, mysterious, and uncontrollable forces, which we all encounter.

In the Bible, it also has the same meaning. The sea represents the overwhelming force of chaos that God restrains in Genesis, divides in two in Exodus, limits in Proverbs, and exerts control over in Job, among other things. Finally, the Book of Revelation claims that when the New Jerusalem of God's peace descends from heaven, there will be "no more sea."

Naturally, Jesus' ability to control natural disasters is only a small part of today's Gospel reading. The early Church, tossed about on the storm-tossed seas of the vast Roman Empire, must have wondered why their Lord seemed to be sleeping in the stern, seemingly unconcerned about the mortal perils that threatened their existence. How many times have his followers felt this way during "storms" of persecution, natural disasters, or personal difficulties throughout history?

There are the storms that we see and feel from the outside, without a doubt. However, there are storms brewing on the inside. Anxiety, depression are raging all around us. These are the storms considered to be the most dangerous. Even when everything appears to be going well around us, internal turmoil can make everything we do seem insignificant.

However, while Jesus' authority is unrestricted, nothing can truly harm those who put their faith in him in the long run. In the Gospel, he asks, “Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?” is a call to all Christians to rekindle their faith in his presence and absolute authority over the universe, as he has done throughout history.

The Bible's most frequently repeated command is "Do not be afraid!" The phrase "fear not" appears in the Bible 365 times. St. Paul says: Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). As we hear over and over in the Bible, we are called to do God's will. And God desires that we be thankful all of the time. In all circumstances, be thankful to God, and our fear will fade away. When Jesus' followers refuse to give in to fear, the enemy's strategy of dissuading them from their mission is defeated. When we are fearless, the enemy trembles in fear. Whatever challenges you are currently facing, know that God loves you and is with you through His Holy Spirit. That is why cultivating a spirit of gratitude is so important, even in the face of adversity and heartbreak.