Word Alive — Fr. Bel San Luis, SVD / June 23, 2024
12th Sunday in Ordinary Time
A woman was seated next to a priest on an airplane during a storm. The plane was bouncing up and down. The terrified woman said to the man of the cloth: “Can’t you do something about this awful storm?”
The priest looked at her and said: “Lady, I’m in sales, not Management,” pointing his finger upward.
* * *
Jesus and his disciples were in the sea of Galilee when a violent storm occurred. The terrified apostles, like the woman in the plane, frantically sought the Lord’s help. And since he was the universal “Manager,” he was able to calm the raging storm and pacified the turbulent waves. The dumbfounded disciples could only mumble: “Who can this be that the wind and sea obey Him?” (Mk 4, 35-41).
* * *
A lady, who was 65, related to me how she was afflicted with high fever and had difficulty in breathing. She kept on praying as she was rushed straight to the ICU.
Miraculously, she recovered and in a short time, she was discharged. She said, “I thank the Lord. What happened to me was a miracle; now in thanksgiving, my family and I pray the rosary every night.”
* * *
The big waves and strong winds symbolize the trials and adversities we encounter in life. Isn’t it true that when everything is going well, more often we forget God? But just as some big problems arise like a malignant cancer, the sudden death of a loved one, the loss of a job or business, then we become insecure and question if there’s really a good God.
* * *
God does help. But let’s not forget doing our part. As the saying goes: “Do your best and God will do the rest.”
Likewise, let’s not go to the Lord and pray only when life’s storms imperil us. We should pray in ALL the circumstances and events, whether we’re in pain or in joy, in comfort or in turbulence.
* * *
ASK YOURSELF: What could be the storm that’s threatening you? Is it financial, a sickness like cancer, depression or remorse of conscience, a crisis in marriage?
Do I reflect that the fault also lies in me because I’m not exerting enough effort to remedy the “storms”?
* * *
You go to a physician when you get sick. Yes, but don’t forget to go to the Lord and pray. Going to the Lord does not even require a service charge.
Do you remember what the Canaanite woman in the gospel did? She kept on pestering Jesus to the point of vexation to cure her possessed daughter. He even insulted her saying that she did not belong to the people of Israel, insinuating further that she was a housedog. The woman retorted and said, “But even the dogs eat the leftovers from the masters’ tables.”
* * *
Jesus was so impressed by the woman’s brash reply that he finally gave in, stating, “Woman, great is your faith. Let your wish be granted” (read Mt 15,28). And at that very moment her daughter was healed.
If you want your prayer to be answered, have a pestering and persevering faith like that of the Canaanite woman.
