Twelfth Sunday of the Year

A favourite description of the Church is “the barque of Peter”, as she makes her way across the often turbulent seas of history to the peace and perfection of that harbour which we know as the Kingdom of God. For ancient peoples the sea conjured up images of unbridled power, fierce in its strength and life threatening to human beings. The passage from the book of Job expresses something of that terror the sea holds and almighty God alone can control its ferocious power. At the dawn of creation the Lord God set limits which the sea could not pass, and so ensured safety for those who dwell on the earth. A similar fear of the ruthless and terrible nature of the sea overtook the apostles on the Sea of Galilee. Seasoned fishermen that some of them were, they felt that they were on the point of perishing by the storm which beset them.

St. Mark tells us that Christ, fast asleep on a pillow in the stern, appeared indifferent to the disciples’ plight. In panic they awoke him only to be met with the rebuke that their faith had failed them in this moment of danger. In a memorable scene, Christ spoke to the turbulent elements and calm immediately followed. The disciples were confused, but went on to ask the pointed question, “Who can this be that even the wind and sea obey him?” As we listen to this gospel passage the same question is addressed to us. We are dealing with someone more than a human being here. The eye of faith sees in Jesus Christ stilling the storm the Son of God himself. The gospel passage is a summons to faith, to the Church as a whole and to each individual. In all the dangers and difficulties, trials and tribulations to which the Church has been subject from the beginning down to the present day, we must never doubt the abiding presence of the saviour, Jesus Christ. Christ will remain faithful to us, provided we remain faithful to him.

The words of Paul the apostle in our second reading can be of great help here. The coming of Christ has changed everything, the way we look at people and view the world. We no longer see things from a purely human perspective, but wonderfully since the death and resurrection of the Lord a new creation has begun and the old order has passed away. In his Son Jesus Christ almighty God has accomplished his greatest wonder. Have we sufficient faith to make God’s marvellous deed our own?

+Michael Campbell OSA

Bishop of Lancaster

(from the Diocesan website)