Daily Readings - Sun Jun 23 2024
Job
1Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said:2"Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge?3Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.4"Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand.8"Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb,9when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness,10when I fixed limits for it and set its doors and bars in place,11when I said, 'This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt'?
2 Corinthians
14For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.15And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.16So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
Mark
35That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side."36Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him.37A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.38Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"39He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.40He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"41They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves 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.