Internal Storms

    

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

23 June 2024

 

First Reading: Jb 38:1, 8-11

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 107:23-24, 25-26, 28-29, 30-31

Second Reading: 2 Cor 5:14-17

Gospel: Mk 4:35-41

 

Reflection

By: Pietro S. Albano

In today's Gospel, a storm almost swamped the boat where Jesus and His disciples were. While the disciples were frightful, the Lord "was in the stern, asleep on a cushion" (Mk 4:38). Pierre Marie Dumont commented "For us Christians, this boat represents more particularly the Church, which will have to confront many storms along its voyage until the end of time, storms in which external forces are unleashed, but also unfortunately, even more dangerous internal storms."

Early this month, Saint Joseph de Gagalangin Parish (Tondo, Manila) was in the eye of an internal storm. Fr. Alfonso "Al" Valeza, its parochial administrator was removed from office and suspended from exercising his priestly faculties due to his persistent defiance. Obedience is one of the vows made by priests during their ordination. To make matters worse, some of his supporters came to his defense to the point of disrespecting a retired bishop who came to the parish office to meet up with the priest.

Storms like the above can hurt or even dishearten us. Like the disciples, we cry, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" (Mk 4:38). Jesus' power of calming the storm shows that He cares. Believing that He cares, these storms can make us better Christians. Indeed, as St. Paul tells us, "whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come" (2 Cor 5:17).

Prayer

Lord Jesus, even the wind and the sea obey You. Our disobedience has contributed to the internal storms besetting Your family, the Church. Filled with awe on Your power, transform us into a new creation: a people who will live no longer for ourselves, but for You. We pray in particular for Fr. Al and for Saint Joseph de Gagalangin Parish. Grant them the grace to overcome these storms. Amen.