Year B
Discover the deeper meaning and connections found in this week's readings, through these great commentaries written by our priests.
Explore this week's readings and hear what God is saying to us through His Word.
Find out more about how we can mark this special day in our liturgy.
See our music recommendations for the liturgy.
In recent months, many extreme weather events have happened across the world, such as flooding and hurricanes. Some people connect these storms with climate change and global warming. But there are other kinds of storms—personal storms, when we face disruptions in our relationships or challenges to our health.
Job is so overwhelmed by the storm of his own suffering that he has lost sight of the bigger picture. After hearing all his complaints about his anguish, God finally speaks majestically. God’s speech points out some of the mysteries of the vast universe that are far beyond human control.
One of the marvels of creation is the sea. However high the tide comes in, eventually it recedes. For the biblical author, this is the work of God, who marked the bounds that the sea was not to cross. God is the one who controls the raging sea, saying: “Here your proud waves shall break.” God will also be the one to end the storm of troubles affecting Job’s life.
Fishermen on the Sea of Galilee faced dangers from sudden storms, such as we hear about in the gospel. Despite the high seas, Jesus seems to be unconcerned, resting in the back of the boat. It is only when he is roused by the disciples that he reacts. When he rebukes the wind and the sea, there is suddenly a marvellous calm. The disciples are amazed and filled with awe, asking: “Who can this be? Even the wind and sea obey him!”
When Jesus performed other miracles, there was often the same reaction of amazement. The people were full of amazement when Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter to life. On Easter morning, when Mary Magdalene and her companions discovered the empty tomb, they also were filled with great awe and amazement.
The apostle Paul was amazed that he was saved by Christ: “The love of Christ overwhelms us when we reflect that if one man has died for all, then all should be dead.” The implication of Christ’s great love is that we should live no longer for ourselves, but rather for Christ, because he died and rose again to save us.
God often does amazing things, both in creation and in the story of our salvation, but we do not always notice them. Yet when we do see them, we can be amazed. Wonder and awe in God’s presence is a gift of the Holy Spirit.
Just as God set a limit for the sea, and Jesus calmed the storm, so the Lord can calm the storms in our lives. If we are in the midst of a personal storm, we ask God to rescue us and to give us endurance until calm returns. But if the storm has now been calmed, we thank God for saving and helping us, whether in ordinary ways or in amazing and wonderful ways. Alleluia!
The opening words of the Entrance Antiphon, “the Lord is the strength of his people” might serve as a key to the liturgy for this Sunday. The Scripture readings appointed for the day call for faith in an all-powerful God amid stormy conditions.
The Collect is unusual. Most collect type prayers start with a remembrance of God and then turn to petition. This Collect does the opposite. First, it reminds us of our primary duty as human and created beings, which is always to revere and love the ‘holy Name.’ But also, and equally, the text remembers the firm foundations of love that the Lord gives to his people. This should remind us of Jesus’ foundational command to love God and neighbour.
The Prayer over the Offerings anticipates the eternal sacrifice which is the substance of the Eucharistic act, namely the ‘sacrifice of conciliation and praise’ which cleanses us and makes our hearts, minds and imagination (that is the full significance of the Latin nostrae mentis) an appropriate offering to God.
It might be appropriate to have the following Bidding as the last of the biddings in the Prayer of the Faithful:
Let us pray that we may build our lives together in the Body of Christ,
on the firm foundation of the One who is the cornerstone:
Jesus, the Son of God.
Notes These hymns have been chosen from different sources.
The Church's one foundation (CFE688, L830, LHON647, TCH187)
Be still and know I am God (CFE71, L909, LHON164)
Do not be afraid (CFE147, L972, LHON240)
Eternal Father, strong to save (CFE152, L963, LHON243, TCH213)
Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us (CFE351, L315, LHON416, TCH235)
Key
CFE - Celebration Hymnal for Everyone
L – Laudate
LHON – Liturgical Hymns Old and New (Mayhew, 1999)
TCH – The Catholic Hymnbook (Gracewing)
Do you have questions about the liturgy and how we are called to participate in it? Explore how the Church councils, saints, and popes have answered this key question and many more.
Every movement of the Mass is rich in meaning but we can become over-familiar with it. Rediscover the Mass and explore how it relates to the Exodus story, where many of its rituals come from, and how it makes Jesus present to us today.
