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Sunday, June 22, 1997

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12th Sunday Ordinary Time


Job 38:1, 8-11
Psalm 107
2 Corinthians 5:14-17
Mark 4:35-41

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the grateful dead

"The love of Christ impels us who have reached the conviction that since One died for all, all died." —2 Corinthians 5:14

Every human being by nature has the desire to avoid death and live forever. Therefore, like the apostles, we are tempted to panic when our lives are threatened (see Mk 4:38). On the other hand, every human being has other natural desires, such as to avoid pain, be free from slavery, be respected, feel good about oneself, etc. At some points in our lives, the only way we can be freed from pain, addiction, imprisonment, disgrace, or self-hatred is to die. Therefore, some of our desires require that we escape from intolerable circumstances by death, despite our natural, great, and humanly unfulfillable desire to live. The human person has contradictory desires deep within.

Jesus alone is the Answer to the human dilemma. Jesus has died in our place, and we, without physically dying, get the benefits of dying (see 2 Cor 5:14). Jesus also has risen from the dead and has promised to raise us from the dead to live with Him forever (see 2 Cor 5:15). Jesus is our Life (Jn 14:6; Phil 1:21).

Once we realize what Jesus has done for us, we decide to thank Him by living no longer for ourselves but for Him (2 Cor 5:15). We look at life, Jesus, and everyone else differently (2 Cor 5:16). In Christ, we are new creations (2 Cor 5:17). "All is new" (2 Cor 5:17).

Prayer:  Jesus, my Lord, my God (Jn 20:28), my All!

Promise:  "A great awe overcame them at this." —Mk 4:41

Praise:  Alleluia! Jesus is risen from the dead! "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" (1 Cor 15:55) "Death is swallowed up in victory" (1 Cor 15:54). Alleluia!

Reference:  (Sunday is the Lord's Day. For Biblical teaching on the significance of Sunday in God's plan, order our leaflet, Keep Holy the Lord's Day.)

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Ralph J. Lawrence, November 12, 1996


Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 10, 1996