Twelfth Sunday of the Year (2021) – June 20 “As evening drew on” (Mark 4:35). “The Gospel passage we have just heard begins like this. For weeks now it has been evening. The darkness has gathered over our squares, our streets and our cities; it has taken over our lives, filling everything with a deafening silence and a distressing void, that stops everything as it passes by; we feel it in the air, we notice it in people’s gestures, their glances give them away. We find ourselves afraid and lost. Like the disciples in the Gospel we were caught off guard by an unexpected, turbulent storm. We have realized that we are on the same boat, all of us fragile and disorientated, but at the same time important and needed, all of us called to row together, each of us in need of comforting the other. On this boat are all of us. Just like those disciples, who spoke anxiously with one voice, saying “we are perishing” (v.38), so we too have realized that we cannot go on thinking about ourselves, but only together can we do this.” With these words Pope Francis led the world in a most extraordinary moment of prayer on Friday, March 27th, 2020, in a dark, empty and rain swept St. Peter’s Square in Rome as the world was embraced in a lockdown. For his reflection he used today’s Gospel, with the disciples questioning Jesus as to whether or not he cares they are perishing, sinking, losing control of their lives. I have encountered many people who have questioned whether or not God really cared about them because of the situation or life changing circumstances they found themselves in. Did God care they had lost a loved one so unexpectedly, the one who was their lifeline? Did God care that their child was unable to beat the wrath of cancer? Did God care that no matter how hard they tried, and how many jobs they worked, they could not lift themselves or their children out of poverty? Does God care when we feel overwhelmed by life, and are at breaking point? Does God really care? Is God sleeping when we need Him the most, when we cry out to Him from the depths of our hearts? I think we are all aware that the last fifteen months or so have tested our faith and resolve, as well as many of our relationships. One thing is for sure, we have all been in the same boat and we hope and pray that as we come into calmer waters, while taking nothing for granted, we will come ashore more aware of our connection to each other, less focused on ourselves, on what we personally want and demand. We have to rediscover belief in our common humanity and stop working against each other, fueling division, which too many people seem to thrive on in today’s world, and I don’t know why. In response to whether or not God cares, Pope Francis obviously replied with a resounding “Yes”! The Pope stated that no one likes to hear the words “You don’t care about me.” No parent likes to hear these words from their children, whether they are justified or not. Such words go straight to the heart, and question belief in ourselves. As we examine our consciences, it is no bad thing to ask ourselves as to whether or not we do truly care. Do we care about those who are struggling, those who live in poverty, the pollution of our earth? Issues Pope Francis continually reminds us of in his words and writings. As Catholic Christians we must never be judged as those who don’t care about these and other issues affecting our world. We could never claim the title of Christian, of being a disciple of the Risen Christ, if we did not care. We belong to one common human family and what affects YOU concerns me, and what concerns ME affects you. We are in this boat together, rowing together toward the Kingdom of Heaven, we don’t row alone, we row together, we face the storms together and respond together to the challenges they raise. It’s hard to face storms on your own, we need each other. Pope Francis acknowledged that the words “Do you not care?” would have shaken Jesus. As the Pope said: “Because he, more than anyone else, cares about us. Indeed, once they have called on him, he saves his disciples from their discouragement.” There is no doubt the pandemic exposed our vulnerability and our fears. Life in this world is not certain, we can never predict what lies before us, each day is a surprise. Who in the end can ultimately save us? There is only one. Once the storm is calmed, Jesus asks two very important questions ”Why are you terrified? Do you not have faith?” What does terrify us? Losing control? Not knowing what lies ahead? Losing our sense of security? The world has been moving at break neck speed, we have grown accustomed to thinking we are invincible, and then suddenly, through a pandemic, discover we are not. It’s as if we have been stopped in our tracks, and given space to reflect and reconfigure the direction we are moving in, and the values, priorities which guide us. We talk about going back to how life was before, as if everything was perfect, rather than thinking what needs to change in myself, in my relationships, in my attitude to others, especially those I disagree with, in order for this world, so loved by God, to become a better place, a more just and compassionate place for all to dwell. We have been given a grace filled time of opportunity, reflection and change. Suffering can be redemptive, as we know from the Cross, it can give birth to new life. As Pope Francis said last March: “You are calling us to seize this time of trial as a time of choosing. It is not the time of your judgment Lord, but of our judgment: a time to choose what matters and what passes away, a time to separate what is necessary from what is not. It is a time to get our lives back on track with regard to you, Lord, and to others. Faith begins when we realize we are in need of salvation. We are not self- sufficient; we need the Lord as ancient navigators needed the stars. Let us invite Jesus into the boats of our lives. Let us hand over our fears to him so that we can conquer them, with Christ on board there will be no shipwreck. Christ brings serenity into our storms, because with God life never dies.” The title of Matthew Kelly’s reflection on this Sunday’s Gospel immediately attracted my attention: ‘A Weather Forecast You Can count On.’ I find it very hard to count on weather forecasts. I am sure they tell us it is going to rain each day, not because it is certain, but because it just might! Weather forecasts in Florida are more than somewhat unpredictable. But what we can predict is that we are going to confront storms in our lives and relationships. This is true for everyone, whether you are the Queen of England or the Pope in Rome, storms find their way into everyone’s life in one form or another. And as I said earlier, when they hit, and we think we are sinking, we can also believe our God is asleep or simply does not care. As Matthew stated, perhaps Jesus is asleep because we are making more of the storm than we need to, we have made the storm worse than it actually is, and we simply have to calm down and trust. We know that most of the things we worry about never actually happen. No matter what storm, hurricane, tornado or strong wind come our way, Christ will never abandon us, will never desert us. Christ is in the storm with us. The storm may go on longer than we want or anticipate. Peace and calm may take time to invade our minds and hearts, especially if we are resistant to that peace, if we fight it, as we can, especially if the storm is not quelled in the way we want or expect. And as Matthew asks at the end of the reflection: What is the storm in your life right now? And where is Jesus in the storm? Is he asleep? If he is, he is saying to us “Stay with me, we are going to get through this.” And we will unless we allow our fears to take control and overwhelm us. “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” Amen! .