Twelfth Sunday of Ordinary Time

The Creek at MSF,
below the dam

Lectionary: 95

So whoever is in Christ is a new creation:
the old things have passed away;
behold, new things have come.

Recently, NASA announced that they would collect and study what little solid data the military and other sources might have about Unidentified Flying Objects. They have assured the public they are not looking for conspiracies and have no intention of creating any, but some odd occurrences have been recorded and they want to look into it. (Given how few facts there are, it shouldn't take this government agency more than ten years and a few million dollars to complete their study.) 

NASA insists they don't expect to meet "aliens" from another galaxy or dimension. Were there aliens in our world their presence would be immediate, obvious, and overwhelming. Something like the Kingdom of God when it finally comes. 

Today's gospel describes an incident, witnessed by only a few, which signalled an unmistakable new age in human history. Jesus, aroused from his sleep during a storm like the Prophet Jonah, had -- unlike Jonah -- commanded the storm and seas, "Quiet! Be still!" 

His apostles saw it, but it happened so quickly they could hardly believe their eyes. Had he told them what he was about to do they would have thought him a madman. But, at the same time, perhaps without realizing it, they expected something of him. We can suppose the Holy Spirit prompted them to wake the "Teacher" who seemed oblivious to the danger; and the same Spirit that caused them to scold him for his apparent indifference to the danger. 

These experienced fishermen might have been familiar with the Book of Jonah but they surely weren't thinking of it when they roused him. The distraught sailors had tossed the reluctant prophet overboard and saved themselves by it. The Apostles surely didn't intend that! But the Evangelist Mark certainly did intend the parallel. He would show us that, "You have a greater than Jonah here!"

The new Jonah calls us to repent like the Ninevites in that fictional Old Testament account. But Jonah is no more than a type of the One who is to Come. 

Jesus is the Kingdom of God walking among us, a kingdom whose impact is so important, spectacular and climactic, it makes an invasion of space aliens seem like just another day at the office. 

Space Invaders?

Our first reading today, from the Book of Job, offers a highlight of the book and an "instant replay" of God's appearance. We can try to grasp its significance for the disgruntled Job and his obtuse companions. The LORD's astonishing appearance in the whirlwind ended their esoteric debate about the meaning of suffering. Their discussion had been conducted in the darkness of ignorance; it suddenly appeared in the light of day as presumptuous and blasphemous. Who were they to argue about God's sovereign rule? 

The arguers, and especially Job, heard God's terrifying reply and saw that the LORD of the Universe has all things in hand. Only a fool would doubt it. More than that, they were satisfied that the Lord does hear and answer prayer.

During this long summer, as the pent-up tensions of the Covid 19 pandemic are released and we return to the terrifying normal of hate politics, mass shootings, drug abuse, and suicide, the Scriptures remind us that God is till in charge. Not even space invaders can disrupt that.