12^th SUNDAY, YEAR B: HOMILY BY FR. JUSTIN ADIELE

THEME: “THE NEED FOR JESUS IN YOUR LIFE’S BOAT”

INTRODUCTION:

In the letter of St. Francis de Sales, he narrated his experience at the country district where he lived. He had observed a farmyard across him where a farm servant (a little girl) often goes across the farmyard to draw water at the well. St. Francis noticed that, before the girl lifted up her brimming water vessel, she always put a piece of wood (twig) into it. One day St. Francis de Sales approached the little farm girl to inquire why she always does that. She replied with a look of surprise; “To keep the water from spilling…to keep it steady.” Writing to a friend later on, the bishop told this story and added; “So when your heart is distressed and agitated, put the Cross into its centre to keep it steady!” In every time of storm and stress, the presence of Jesus and the love which flows from the Cross bring peace and serenity and calm.

 

THE FIRST READING (JOB 38: 1. 8 – 11)

In the first reading, we are meant to understand that we need Jesus in our life’s boat because he has the power to steady the forces of nature and keep them within their boundaries. The forces of the seas, the clouds, the winds and the lights are subject to him. God determines how far they can go in order not to pose a serious problem to the other creatures of God which man is the number one. With God in your life’s boat and journey every destructive or dangerous forces of nature has a limit they can never exceed in your life. With Jesus in your life, every villainy of the devil, mortal danger of the enemy and evil projections have a line they will never cross in your life. For God Himself would set boundaries for them; and He would not allow your life/path to spill over where they can harm you.

 

THE SECOND READING (2 COR. 5: 14 – 17)

If we have Jesus in our life and live for him, St. Paul convincingly assures us of the love of Christ Jesus which would establish us. St. Paul affirmed that Jesus is the only one who has and is ever ready to die for us; taking up our suffering, our beating, our death and condemnation. Jesus wants us to live and have life in abundance. Hence, St. Paul concludes; if anyone is in Christ Jesus or vice versa, he is a new creation and old things shall pass away; he would continue to experience a new day, a new year, a new life, a new blessing, a new strength, a new height, a new inspiration and a new breakthrough!

 

THE GOSPEL READING (MK. 4: 35 – 41)

In the gospel reading, we saw a practical example of what the presence of Jesus meant in our life’s journey. Jesus must be there in your life for the days of trouble, so make room for him in your plans. Then you would have whom to turn to, whom to call for help. There are storms we face in life that the company of our fellow men may not be able to help us. We need the company of Jesus to sail safe and through; we need God within our reach, so that, we are one touch, one tap, or one click away from our source of help/safety. God made all things and by default has control over all things; even the sea, storm and winds hear his voice.

 

CONCLUSION

Brethren, indeed, there is no one like Jesus in steadying our life’s boat; the Jesus who walked upon the sea without sinking. If we have him in our life’s boat/journey we shall never sink with our troubles; we shall never be blown off our feet nor off our destination; we shall never be wasted nor waste our life, efforts and time for nothing. Invite Jesus to come walk with you today and always, and your life would be steady, your growth would be steady, your blessings would be steady, your income would be steady, your helpers would be steady, your protection/safety would be steady, and your happiness and peace of mind would be steady and never shattered by any storm!

Happy Sunday!

Fr. Justin

 12^th Sunday, Year B: homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Theme: God is more powerful than our storms; He can calm them.

Reading: Job 38:1,8-11; 2Cor 5:14-17; Mk 4:35-41

Dear friends in Christ, on this twelfth Sunday in ordinary time, we are reminded that Christ is always with us, even in the midst of all the storms/troubles of this life. So, what then shall we do when storms rage around us?

The world we live in is full of storms. These storms hit our lives in different forms and from different directions. They could be problems in marriages, infertility in marriages, family crisis, problems with our children, lack of job or lack of good job, poverty, sicknesses, emotional or spiritual crises, accident, or lack of peace. They could also be inability to find or maintain a good and stable relationship, poor academic performance/results, unstable business and many others.  

Most times, these storms can hit us so hard that our human strength can no longer support us. At such moments our life becomes enveloped by fear and complaints, and our faith could be stretched to the point of questioning God, doubting His existence or His power in our life, or thinking that He has abandoned us, just as Job did in the first reading of today and cried out in frustration. But even in the middle of life’s storms, our God does not abandon us. His response to Job tells us the true nature of this God. He reminded Job that He has power over the forces of this world, that He controls and regulates all the natural, physical and spiritual forces of the world and that his sickness was not beyond His power. Job believed and was delivered at God’s own time.

In the gospel reading of today, Jesus demonstrated that our God is, indeed, more powerful than the storms that attack our life and all other forces that seek to destroy or distract us, and that He can calm them. Jesus stood up, commanded the storm and it ceased.

If we pay close attention to today’s gospel narrative, we will learn some important lessons from it. Mark narrated that Jesus wanted to cross over to the gentile territory and teach them God’s word too. On their way through the sea, the storms hit their boat so hard, obstructing them from accessing their destination and achieving their goal. The storms of this world often come to prevent us from reaching our goals; they come as challenges or difficulties any time we want to take a bold step in life.

When the storm was hitting their boat and tossing them from one end of the river to the other, the disciples did everything within their power to bring their boat to safety, but their efforts/attempts didn’t yield their desired result. Dear friends in Christ, most times we think and feel we can navigate the boats of our lives out of the storms of this world by our own strength alone, and most times many people believe that they don't need divine assistance because they have access to all scientific knowledge. But then, when the disciples discovered how futile relying upon their power and knowledge alone was, they called on Jesus, He answered them, and the storm ceased.

Dear friends, no matter how experienced you think you are in navigating your own boat, you cannot overcome your storms alone. Our God says without Him, we can do nothing (Jn 15:5), and indeed, without his help the storms of our life will conquer us. But with his help, victory is assured. So, today’s gospel reassures us that Christ is with us in our individual boats and that He is aware of the storm we are battling with. If we have Him in our boats, the storms cannot conquer us, and we cannot sink. So, rather than live in fear, seat and complain, or give up completely, let us cry out and invite His help in our difficulties, for He said in Psalm 50:15, “Call upon me in times of trouble and I will help you.” And the Psalmist also assured us that: “Our help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth” (Ps 121, 1-2).

Peace be with you.

Fr Isaac Chima

 12^th Sunday, Year B: Reflection by Fr Julian Ekeh

THEME: REASONS TO GO WITH CHRIST

(Mark 4:35-41)

Jesus invites us all to go with Him away from the crowd to see the better part of life, life in Christ, with Christ, and for Christ.

"Let us go across to the other side" was the invitation. "Anaghi ano otu ebe ekiri mmanwu." Let us take the decision to make a move across. There are places you can't afford to stay if you   want to make out something positive in your life. Move away from toxic and corrosive places. Take a step away from places hostile to your spirituality. Leave the areas contaminated by evil. It is time to leave in order to live better. This leaving may not be physical.

 

IT IS EVENING

The evenings are dangerous times. Evil men wait for evening and night times to strike. As the night approaches, with darkness that follows it, Jesus takes us away from being subject to the devil that hovers and prowls in the night.

You should not wait till you are overpowered by the forces of darkness before you take cover. Being alert as a child of God entails moving away from darkness to Christ, who is light.

What are those advances towards your life? Do you recognise those evil friends who are waiting for the right time to drag you into sin? Do you notice those desires in you seeking opportunities to raise their ugly heads? Flee from entertaining them and run to Christ.

 

THE CROWD IS DECEPTIVE

The word today says: Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat.  You've got to leave the crowd behind in order to follow Christ. If you want to go far in life, go with Christ. Leave the noisy crowd. Their suggestions will not do you any good.

We have a failed society because we leave God behind to follow the crowd. People move into politics and leave God. Individuals take up vocations and leave the God who chose and called them. Let us leave the crowd and take Jesus along with us as we journey.

 

LEST WE PERISH

It does not end at leaving the crowd. You may leave the individuals and the crowd, but you must still encounter the winds and storms. These are the temptations, the negative influences, and the troubles from nowhere that may come.

You feel lonely, and you feel abandoned.  You are tossed up and down by sickness, by challenges, and by cruel, unforeseen experiences. The temptation here is to focus on the problems and forget God. But to succeed and overcome the storms, we must be conscious of the presence of Christ in the boat of our lives. Calling upon Him and keeping Him active and alive in our situation is the way forward to achieve our peace.

Let us, therefore, call upon Christ as we are perishing in the political atmosphere of this country. Let us invoke God to arise and pilot the affairs of our world. Let us call upon God-fearing men to take charge and speak words of peace, joy and life to our people in fear of perishing under the storms and evil winds blowing up and down in our lives, families, in the Church and the society at large.

May God bless His word in our hearts.

LET US PRAY

Thank You, Lord, for giving us reasons to follow Christ Your Son. We are glad to go with you. Continue to call us to your side. Remain in our boat. Calm the troubled seas in our lives and keep on saving us that we may not perish through Christ our Lord. Amen

Happy Sunday (12th Sunday, Ordinary Time Yr. B)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh