{"id":2708,"date":"2021-06-20T12:42:00","date_gmt":"2021-06-20T11:42:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/?p=2708"},"modified":"2021-06-20T12:43:25","modified_gmt":"2021-06-20T11:43:25","slug":"commentary-on-the-12th-sunday-of-the-year-b-21st-june-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/commentary-on-the-12th-sunday-of-the-year-b-21st-june-2015\/","title":{"rendered":"Commentary on the 12th Sunday of the year (B) 20th June 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"

TEA: T<\/strong>ext, E<\/strong>xplanation, A<\/strong>pplication<\/h3>\n

Mark 4:35\u201341<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

TEXT: Mark 4: 3541<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n

Setting<\/strong><\/p>\n

35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, \u201cLet us go across to the other side.\u201d 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him.<\/em><\/p>\n

Storm<\/strong><\/p>\n

37 And a great storm of wind arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.<\/em><\/p>\n

Authority of Jesus<\/strong><\/p>\n

38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him and said to him, \u201cTeacher, do you not care if we perish?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, \u201cPeace! Be still!\u201d And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.<\/em><\/p>\n

40 He said to them, \u201cWhy are you afraid? Have you no faith?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWho then is This?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

41 And they were filled with awe, and said to one another, \u201cWho then is this, that even wind and sea obey him?\u201d<\/em>
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

EXPLANATION<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n

Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n

The previous section of Mark\u2019s Gospel contained three parables that treated of the power of God\u2019s word. In this next section (Mk. 4: 35\u20135: 43) there are four miracles that will treat of the visible power of God\u2019s word against the forces of evil.<\/p>\n

This is the first of these four stories showing Jesus\u2019 ability to act in ways beyond human possibilities.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. 4: 35\u201341<\/a>: (this story): he has power over evil in nature, that is, over Satan.<\/li>\n
  2. 5: 1\u201320<\/a>: In exorcising a demon, Jesus defeats possession by the devil<\/li>\n
  3. 5: 25\u201334<\/a>: In healing the woman with vaginal bleeding, he demonstrates his power over disease<\/li>\n
  4. 5: 21\u201324<\/a>, 35\u201343<\/a>: In healing Jairus\u2019 daughter, Jesus shows his power over death.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

    35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, \u201cLet us go across to the other side.\u201d 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

    \u201cOn that day, when evening had come<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Mark has a tendency to describe time in double phrases (Mk. 1: 32, 35; 2: 20; 10: 30; 14: 12; 15: 32).<\/p>\n

    \u201cevening<\/em>\u201d would indicate the approach of darkness which is associated with evil. A storm at night is always more terrifying than during the day. When Jesus walked on water it was also dark (Mk. 6: 45\u201347).<\/p>\n

    \u201cLet us go across to the other side<\/em>\u201d \u2014 They will go to the eastern or pagan side. No reason is given for this move. Jesus crosses the Sea at least six times according to Mark.<\/p>\n

    \u201cleaving the crowd<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The miracle will be performed for the disciples to help them grow in faith.<\/p>\n

    \u201cthey took him with them in the boat<\/em>\u201d \u2014 \u201cThey<\/em>\u201d refers to the Twelve (see Mk. 4: 10). The Greek verb \u201ctook him<\/em>\u201d is used in four other places and always it indicates that Jesus is going to give a special instruction to his disciples.<\/p>\n

    The \u201cboat<\/em>\u201d, mentioned twice again, with Jesus and the Twelve in it could be a reference to the Church.<\/p>\n

    After an archeological discovery in 1986, it can be accepted that the boat was about 26 feet long, by 8 feet wide, and could hold twelve to fifteen people.<\/p>\n

    \u201cjust as he was<\/em>\u201d \u2014 He had entered the boat to preach so he would have had nothing with him (Mk. 4: 1).<\/p>\n

    \u201cAnd other boats were with him\u201d<\/em> \u2014 The point in mentioning these boats is probably to indicate that Jesus\u2019 followers are increasing in numbers. There is no further mention of these boats.<\/p>\n

    And a great storm of wind arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

    \u201cAnd a great storm of wind arose, and the waves beat into the boat<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Sudden squalls or storms can be frequent on the Sea of Galilee. Wind and waves are mentioned to indicate the strength of the storm. The sea and chaos are two biblical symbols of evil.<\/p>\n

    \u201cThe boat was already filling<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The scene is one of impending destruction.<\/p>\n

    38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him and said to him, \u201cTeacher, do you not care if we perish?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

    \u201cBut he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion\u201d<\/em> \u2014 \u201c<\/em><\/strong>The cushion<\/em>\u201d would have been on the raised afterdeck and protected to a certain extend from the wind and waves. \u201cThe cushion<\/em>\u201d could have been a sandbag for ballast.<\/p>\n

    The word \u201casleep<\/em>\u201d is the symbol of death. This will be alluded to in the following verses. Jesus\u2019 sleep in the midst of such a bad storm was a symbol of his trust in his Father.<\/p>\n

    \u201cthey woke him<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The Greek verb here is associated with Jesus\u2019 resurrection.<\/p>\n

    \u201cTeacher, do you not care if we perish?<\/em>\u201d \u2014 When Jesus is addressed as \u201cTeacher<\/em>\u201d in Mark\u2019s Gospel it is usually an indication that a special instruction is to be given (Mk. 1: 26\u201327; 5: 35; 9: 5, 17, 38; 10: 17, 20, 35; 11: 21; 12: 14, 19, 32; 13: 1; 14: 45). That he is given this title so often indicates the power and effectiveness of his word. This will be brought out by his calming the storm with his word.<\/p>\n

    The disciples are certainly annoyed with Jesus, not because they thought that he could control the situation \u2014 they did not ask him to do anything \u2014 but because they saw him so relaxed and peaceful.<\/p>\n

    Other examples of their impertinence are: Mk. 5: 31; 6: 37; 8:4.<\/p>\n

    39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, \u201cPeace! Be still!\u201d And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

    \u201cAnd he awoke<\/em>\u201d \u2014 He was \u201casleep\u201d, the symbol of death; now he is awake, the symbol of life. He is the Risen Lord!<\/p>\n

    He \u201crebuked the wind, and said to the sea, \u2018Peace! Be still!\u2019<\/em>\u201d \u2014 He personified wind and sea, using words that occur elsewhere to deal with demons. Mark indicated that there were two demons, one of wind and the other of sea. He dealt with each separately and the results were recorded for each: \u201cAnd the wind ceased, and there was a great calm\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n

    It was by his word that Jesus brought calm to chaos.<\/p>\n

    Jesus did not address the disciples. He commanded the wind and the sea, showing how he is able to control the forces of evil and chaos. See Mk. 1: 23\u201327 where he commanded the unclean spirit to leave a possessed man.<\/p>\n

    When he exorcised the unclean spirit or demon from the man in the synagogue, Jesus used the same command, \u201cBe still<\/em>\u201d (Mk. 1: 25). This reinforces that here he is dealing with the forces of evil in commanding the wind and the sea.<\/p>\n

    “There was a great calm<\/em>\u201d \u2014 This indicates how effective Jesus was in bringing about the overthrow of the forces of evil.<\/p>\n

    40 He said to them, \u201cWhy are you afraid? Have you no faith?<\/em><\/strong>\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Jesus rebuked the disciples on other occasions: Mk. 7: 18; 8: 17\u201319, 21; 8: 32\u201333; 9: 19.<\/p>\n

    \u201cWhy are you afraid? Have you no faith?<\/em>\u201d \u2014 For Mark \u201cfaith<\/em>\u201d meant three things:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • an intellectual acceptance of a teaching which could be conveyed by an action of Jesus;<\/li>\n
    • trust in him as a consequence and<\/li>\n
    • a commitment to follow him by doing something.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      41 And they were filled with awe, and said to one another, \u201cWho then is this, that even wind and sea obey him?\u201d <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

      \u201cAnd they were filled with awe<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The normal reaction to witnessing a miracle.<\/p>\n

      \u201cWho then is this, that even wind and sea obey him?<\/em>\u201d \u2014 A major theme in Mark is \u201cWho is this?<\/em>\u201d (1: 27; 2: 7; 4: 41; 6: 2; 8: 27; 11: 27; 14: 61\u201362; 15: 2,31\u201332). Mark opened his Gospel telling us that his intention was to write about \u201cJesus Christ, the Son of God<\/em>\u201d (Mk. 1: 1). He develops this theme gradually throughout the Gospel and comes to the conclusion in Mk. 15: 31\u201332 and 15: 39 \u2014 Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of God.<\/p>\n

      The disciples saw Jesus perform a deed that they knew only God could. They had not yet come to that firm faith by which they would accept Jesus as divine. They wondered who he might be. By adding \u201cthat even wind and sea obey him<\/em>\u201d gives us the answer that Jesus is divine, Without calling on God but with his own authority, he performed a divine act in calming the wind and waves, which only the Creator\u2013God could do.<\/p>\n

      \n

      APPLICATION<\/strong><\/h4>\n

      \u201cInclusio\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

      There is a special literary form used frequently in the Bible known as \u201cinclusio<\/em>(n)\u201d. This means that a word, words or a phrase are used and then repeated, generally shortly afterwards but not necessarily. What is contained between these common words explains the repeated words. An example of this is in verse 1, chapter 1 of Mark\u2019s Gospel which reads: \u201cThe beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God<\/em>\u201d. These titles are repeated in verse 11 of the same first chapter: \u201cThou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased<\/em>\u201d. In the final chapter, Mk. 16: 39 the centurion who witnessed the crucifixion exclaimed, \u201cTruly this man was the Son of God<\/em>\u201d. Mk. 16: 19 also states \u201cSo then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up in to heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God<\/em>\u201d. From these references we see that Jesus is \u201cLord<\/em>\u201d, \u201cSon of God<\/em>\u201d, was assumed into heaven as God\u2019s equal sitting at his right hand. This tells us who Jesus is and the placement of these references at the beginning and end of the Gospel show, among other indications, that Marks\u2019 main purpose in writing was to show who Jesus is: In the current passage the disciples ask the question: \u201cWho then is this that even the wind and the sea obey him?<\/em>\u201d (Mk. 4: 40) While their question did not receive an answer, we know that it would have been: \u201cHe is Son of God, Saviour (\u201cJesus\u201d) and Messiah (\u201cChrist\u201d). This will be brought out by his miracles, one of which will be described in today\u2019s Gospel passage. Jesus does what God does: he overcomes the forces of chaos, evil and death that revolt against him. By this victory he shows that he is divine. The miracle is performed when darkness is descending, the symbol of evil and death.<\/p>\n

      The Boat: the Church<\/strong><\/p>\n

      This Sunday Gospel opens with Jesus inviting the Twelve to go to the pagan territory on the other side of the Sea or Lake of Galilee. This was his first visit to a pagan area. There he would perform several miracles including, exorcisms, the restoration to life of two women, healings and feedings. Clearly Jesus was showing his divine power as he encountered human suffering and need. Today\u2019s Reading describes the storm and waves encountered on the voyage and these almost sank the boat but he overcame these forces and restored calm. From the Old Testament we are aware that only divine power could do that. Trust in God was essential for people: \u201cWhen you pass through the waters I will be with you<\/em>\u201d (Is. 43:2). In calming the Sea of Galilee Jesus demonstrated that he had and exercised the exact same power as God. He was claiming to be divine, exercising God\u2019s power as Creator. This, as we saw, is the point of this Gospel passage.<\/p>\n

      The boat in which Jesus was travelling belonged to Peter and the Twelve were in it. The boat represented the Church: Jesus, Peter, the head of the Church, and the Apostles. The passage shows us the Church under attack and nearly overcome. However, Jesus saves it when no one else could. We are living in very troubled times for the Church which is clearly under attack in various ways. Only today I saw a report from the Holy See announcing that 5,000 Catholics have been killed recently in part of Nigeria. Several other countries in Africa and Asia have suffered deaths to people and destruction of property. Ireland has been spared deaths and destruction but not other problems. It is good to remember that to be with Jesus on the journey of faith means to be prepared for gales and waves, trials and temptations. It also means to expect to lose one\u2019s life as Jesus did though he had done no wrong. Our great consolation is that Jesus is with us and always ready to come to our help when we are prepared to accept it.<\/p>\n

      One of the lessons in the Gospel Reading is that Jesus left the crowd behind when he asked the Apostles to set sail in the boat. A few other boats with disciples travelled with them. It was not the crowd that he followed or wanted his disciples to follow, nor wanted to follow him because of their lack of interest in him and his message. He had his plans for the Church and that is where we belong. We too must learn not to be influenced by the crowd but by Jesus and his Church.<\/p>\n

      Faith<\/strong><\/p>\n

      No doubt when the sea and wind got strong the apostles had, at first, great confidence in themselves as experienced fishermen and so did not consider that they needed Jesus and his help. Like so many professional fishermen they probable could not even swim. When the disciples woke Jesus and he calmed the sea and wind, he asked them two questions: \u201cWhy are you afraid? Have you no faith?<\/em>\u201d He had been teaching them for some time and so they called him \u201cTeacher<\/em>\u201d. There is no sign of any faith developing in them. Jesus could sleep in the storm\u2013tossed boat because of his trust in God.<\/p>\n

      There is a thought here for our consideration. We have spend a life\u2013time with Jesus and, like the apostles, we often do not understand what he is saying to us or doing for us. One reason is that we do not make an effort to understand. Fear and lack of faith can be guiding us. This means that we must correct our attitude.<\/p>\n

      The disciples were called early in the Gospel and introduced to the mystery of the Kingdom of God. In addition they had Jesus\u2019 teaching explained privately to them away from the crowd. They were being specially prepared. Now they show no signs of any of this being absorbed by them.<\/p>\n

      The disciples were experienced fishermen with no fear of the sea. They never thought that they \u2018needed\u2019 Jesus; they were on their own \u2018ground\u2019, the sea. They were taking care of him! We are like that on many occasions. We row off into the deep and dangerous waters of life. We are confident that we can take care of ourselves. We can pride ourselves on our experience and self asserted confidence. However, \u201cfools rush in where angels fear to tread\u201d. No need for Jesus!<\/p>\n

      Ultimately we find the apostles asking the question \u201cWho is this who can control the ea and the wind like a creator?\u201d They came up with no answer. That might be another of our problems: no answers to our deep questions!<\/p>\n

      This passage is a very simple one but it has deep personal questions for all of us. Perhaps you should make some time meditating on the passage and perhaps discussing it with some other like\u2013minded persons.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      TEA: Text, Explanation, Application Mark 4:35\u201341 \u00a0 TEXT: Mark 4: 3541 Setting 35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, \u201cLet us go across to the other side.\u201d 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2710,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2708","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commentary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2708","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2708"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2708\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7067,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2708\/revisions\/7067"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2710"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2708"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2708"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2708"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}