Daily Catholic Mass Readings for June 23, 2024
First Reading: Job 38.1-4, 8-11
1Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:2"Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?3Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.4"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.8"Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb,9when I made clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band,10and prescribed limits for it and set bars and doors,11and said, 'Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed'?
Psalm 107
1Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!2Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble3and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.4Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in;5hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them.6Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.7He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in.8Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of men!9For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.10Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons,11for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High.12So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor; they fell down, with none to help.13Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.14He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and burst their bonds apart.15Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of men!16For he shatters the doors of bronze and cuts in two the bars of iron.17Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction;18they loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death.19Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.20He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.21Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of men!22And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!23Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the great waters;24they saw the deeds of the LORD, his wondrous works in the deep.25For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea.26They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths; their courage melted away in their evil plight;27they reeled and staggered like drunken men and were at their wits' end.28Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.29He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.30Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven.31Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of men!32Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.33He turns rivers into a desert, springs of water into thirsty ground,34a fruitful land into a salty waste, because of the evil of its inhabitants.35He turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water.36And there he lets the hungry dwell, and they establish a city to live in;37they sow fields and plant vineyards and get a fruitful yield.38By his blessing they multiply greatly, and he does not let their livestock diminish.39When they are diminished and brought low through oppression, evil, and sorrow,40he pours contempt on princes and makes them wander in trackless wastes;41but he raises up the needy out of affliction and makes their families like flocks.42The upright see it and are glad, and all wickedness shuts its mouth.43Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the LORD.
Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5.14-17
14For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;15and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.16From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Gospel: Mark 4.35-41
35On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side."36And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him.37And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.38But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?"39And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.40He said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?"41And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even 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.