Daily Readings - Sun Jun 23 2024

¹But the Lord, responding to Job from a whirlwind, said²Who is this that wraps sentences in unskilled words³Gird your waist like a man. I will question you, and you must answer me⁴Where were you, when I set the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding⁸Who enclosed the sea with doors, when it broke forth as if issuing from the womb⁹when I stationed a cloud as its garment and wrapped it in a mist as if swaddling an infant¹⁰I encircled it with my limits, and I positioned its bars and doors¹¹And I said: "This far you will approach, and you will proceed no further, and here you will break your swelling waves.

2 Corinthians

Chapter 5

¹⁴For the charity of Christ urges us on, in consideration of this: that if one died for all, then all have died¹⁵And Christ died for all, so that even those who live might not now live for themselves, but for him who died for them and who rose again¹⁶And so, from now on, we know no one according to the flesh. And though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know him in this way no longer¹⁷So if anyone is a new creature in Christ, what is old has passed away. Behold, all things have been made new

Mark

Chapter 4

³⁵And on that day, when evening had arrived, he said to them, "Let us cross over.³⁶And dismissing the crowd, they brought him, so that he was in one boat, and other boats were with him³⁷And a great wind storm occurred, and the waves broke over the boat, so that the boat was being filled³⁸And he was in the stern of the boat, sleeping on a pillow. And they woke him and said to him, "Teacher, does it not concern you that we are perishing?³⁹And rising up, he rebuked the wind, and he said to the sea: "Silence. Be stilled." And the wind ceased. And a great tranquility occurred⁴⁰And he said to them: "Why are you afraid? Do you still lack faith?"⁴¹And they were struck with a great fear. And they said to one another, "Who do you think this is, that both wind and sea obey him?"

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter powerful themes of God's sovereignty, transformation, and faith. The first reading from Job depicts God speaking from a whirlwind, challenging Job's understanding of creation. God's questions about the foundations of the earth and the sea emphasize His divine wisdom and power, reminding us of the awe-inspiring nature of creation. This passage invites us to reflect on our place within the grandeur of God's universe. The second reading from 2 Corinthians shifts our focus to the transformative power of Christ's love. Paul writes that Christ's death and resurrection have redefined our existence, urging us to live not for ourselves but for Him. This passage calls us to embrace our new identity in Christ, letting go of the old and embracing the new life He offers. It reminds us that our lives should be lived with purpose, directed by the love of Christ. In the Gospel, Mark recounts the miracle of Jesus calming the storm. As the disciples face a turbulent sea, Jesus demonstrates His authority over nature, teaching them about faith and trust in God's presence. This story speaks to our own experiences of turmoil, reminding us that even in the midst of chaos, God is with us, offering peace and calm. It challenges us to deepen our faith and trust in His providence. These readings together invite us to trust in God's power and presence, to embrace the transformation Christ brings, and to live with faith and purpose. May we, like the disciples, turn to Jesus in our storms, and may we, like Paul, live as new creations, guided by the love of Christ.