Reflection for the Twelfth Sunday of Ordinary Time

               On its very first page of the Old Testament introduces God as the creator of the universe,. There are several layers of it: the lifeless beings, the vegetable kingdom, the animal kingdom, and, on top of it all, humankind. We are made part of the physical world through our body and part of the spirit world through the divine breath that infused into Adam a supernatural element. Genesis does not describe the making of the  created spirit world – but supposes its existence.
               Of all those different layers of God world only humankind can look upon God also as its redeemer. The sub – human  world cannot sin and sep itself from God. It has no need of a redemption. Those members of the created spirit world who failed the test and separate themselves  from God were never given a pardon. They remain eternally away from the divine presence. Humankind also failed the test and became a lost sheep –  a prodigal child. In his infinite mercy the Good Shepherd went after this sheep to bring it back and pressed it to his heart when it returned. To us God is both maker and redeemer.
          In today’s first reading, the responsorial psalm and in the gospel, we encounter the creative power of God and its wonderful consequences. To Job, God points out his almighty power which shut the sea within its doors. He set its limits:” thus far shall you come but no farther, and here shall your proud wave be stilled.” In the responsorial psalm we see how God’s command” raised up a storm wind which tossed its waves on high” and how the people’s hearts on the ship ” melted away in their plight.” Also how, after they cried to him for help” he hushed the storm to a gentle breeze.” In the gospel our Lord shows the same divine power over the waves of the sea and they obey his command.
         As , with these thoughts in mind, we prepare for the celebration of the Eucharist, we notice the presence in it of both the creative and the redemptive action of God. The change of bread into body of Christ and of wine into his blood can only be imagined if we see the creative power of Christ’s words and of the action of the Holy Spirit. The same is suggested by the fact that Saint John places the Eucharist into the context of the creative act of the multiplication of the breads( cf. Jn 6). Since the  Holy Eucharist  is the Sacramental reenactment of the redemptive act of the Cross, in the Mass the infinite grace of our redemption is poured into our souls in Holy Communion.
          In this s let us approach God with the alternative Opening Prayer: ” God of the universe, we worship you as Lord. God, ever close to us, we rejoice to call you Father”

God bless you all,
Fr. Dominic
Your brother in Christ