June 20-21, 2009
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Job 38:1-11 Second Corinthians 5:14-17 Mark 4:35-41
Father’s Day
In the mind and imagination of small children, ‘DAD’, can become a mythic figure of towering proportions. Dads tinker, can lift us over their heads, can be transformed into a bucking-bronco or a safe shoulder from which to watch the parade of life. ‘DAD’ as stern task-master can become ‘the voice from the clouds’ as boundaries are established, discipline enacted and the counter-weight to the maternal tenderness of mom is understood.
With growth and maturity we start to catch glimpses of our dad’s limitations, we perceive the effects of time’s passage….hairs become silver…a ripped six-pack starts to slide downward and outward; in our swelling growth we become aware of the cresting of the ‘mythic’ and see it replaced with the mortal.
With our doctrinal days of Holy Trinity and Corpus Christi now behind us, we fully embrace Ordinary Time with a timely reminder of Jesus’ authority and strength. Much more than simply a charismatic preacher or compassionate teacher, with the calming of the storm Jesus is shown as having power over the forces of nature.
Who among us would not at times like to have the power to command a brush fire to cease or call upon rain clouds to douse the flames and rebuild our water reserves? What is perhaps even more interesting….and indicative of our own times and situation…even while they were in the presence of Jesus, the disciples still experienced fear and doubt.
Imagine, Jesus himself was asleep on a ‘cushion’ in the back of the boat….you would think the disciples would become almost reckless in their embrace of the storm….. ‘Bring it on….look who we have on board!’ But no, they are terrified…which even startles Jesus: ‘Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?’ Perhaps because we grow and watch the physical diminishment of our own fathers, we fail to grow in an appreciation of the swelling power of Jesus in our life….not a power that will prevent crisis or struggle from occurring, but a power of presence…a presence that is meant to put everything into context and reassure that eventually all will be well.
Yes, even as people of faith we fret, anguish, grieve and mourn….but on this Father’s Day weekend we are given a powerful reminder….the one who is with us is pretty darn strong….even after an infinity of existence, his power and authority is undiminished. Perhaps this reminder will keep us from completely hyper-ventilating the next time a storm upsets our life.
Thank you for joining with us this weekend, the OFFICIAL beginning of Summer, the Summer Solstice. Enjoy the longest day and shortest night of the year; linger outdoors, cook up some sausage, bless the setting sun and relish the change of seasons. Please remember that next weekend, being the last weekend f the month, will be our ‘Feeding Our Family’ food collection effort for the South County Outreach Food Bank.
Please bring your non-perishable food items with you next weekend. The Bulletin has news of other events and happenings occurring…please take one as you depart. A Happy and Prosperous Father’s Day to all the dads in our midst…thanks for being our dads! As the sun lingers and the darkness of night is brief, remember, you are loved. FKB
