ReflectionFOR NEXT SUNDAY: June 21, 200912th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

Good News ReflectionFOR NEXT SUNDAY: June 21, 200912th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B
Parish bulletins, faith-sharing groups, RCIA: To distribute copies of this reflection, please order the professionally published bulletin insert from Catholic Digital Resources:http://catholicdr.com/calendar/June/12thB.htm
Next Sunday's Readings:Job 38:1, 8-11Ps 107:23-26, 28-312 Cor 5:14-17Mark 4:35-41http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/062109.shtmlAudio: http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_06_21.mp3
It's hurricane season where I live in Florida. Some people think that destructive storms are punishments from God. While it is true that people deserve to be punished for their immorality, Jesus took the Father's righteous wrath upon his own body, accepting torture, shedding blood, and dying, so that all sinners could be saved from the justice we deserve.
Jesus wants to calm our storms, not cause them.
Hardships are not punishments. They are the best occasions for growing closer to God. All of us have seasons of storms in our lives. Each of them are invitations to realize that Jesus is walking with us through it all, whether we deserve his help or not. They're opportunities to learn more knowledge, gain more wisdom, and grow stronger in true faith. It's a time of becoming more humble. Because of our increased need to rely on God, we discover more about his love, but only if we stop insisting that God should behave like a magic genie that we control to resolve our problems the way we think it should happen.
Some of the storms in this world continue raging because we don't do enough to bring the presence of Christ into them. After we've gained from our experiences, we're supposed to help others endure the storms of their lives. We have the earthly hands that Jesus wants to use to calm their storms. And then, surprise! It is in this outreach that we realize that our sufferings have not been in vane; this calms our stormy clouds of despair and regret.
Often, we create our own storms by making sinful decisions, but God doesn't want us to get punished. He sends plenty of red-flag warnings and then, if we get into a hurricane anyway, Jesus invites us to calm the turmoil by reconciling with him.
Whether the storms brew by sin or by nature, if we cry out like the disciples in next Sunday's Gospel reading — "Lord, don't you care that we're perishing?" — Jesus replies, "Why are you scared? How little faith you have! My peace is already here."
Questions for Personal Reflection:What's stormy in your life right now? From where did this turmoil come? What do you need Jesus to save you from today? Choose an action that extends trust to him. What will you do this week to quiet yourself and find the peaceful presence of Christ?
Questions for Community Faith Sharing:How has Jesus calmed the waves or led you to a peaceful shore when you suffered through a stormy time in your life? When did you recognize his presence beside you? What happened that revealed his helpfulness?
STARTING ON MONDAY, if you're a member of the "Emmaus Journey" e-group, share your answers by writing to EmmausJourney@gnm.org* To join and become a member, go to: http://gogoodnews.net/GNMcommunities/EmmausJourney/
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