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Word To Life
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Sunday Scripture Readings, June 21, 2009
By Jean Denton
Catholic News Service
June 21, Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Cycle B Readings:
1) Job 38:1, 8-11
Psalm 107:23-26, 28-31
2) 2 Corinthians 5:14-17
Gospel: Mark 4:35-41
My mother warned me: It's not a wise idea to travel by rental car in a city you've never visited before. Especially if you don't speak the language. And if it's the eighth largest city in the world. And if it's recovering from a recent major earthquake.
Yet there we were in Mexico City with our little rent-a-car map and detour signs, in Spanish, at every turn. All five of us were crammed into a Volkswagen Golf on the first day of a three-week family mission. We were to meet our host Maryknoll sisters in Oaxaca -- if we ever got there! We had rented the car for an overnight side trip to Cuernavaca. Now we were hopelessly lost in Mexican traffic.
Our three school-age children sat scrunched together, uncharacteristically silent, in the back seat. They could feel the tension in the car and weren't about to exacerbate it. My husband is by nature -- to understate it -- tightly wound. It was somewhat unnerving when he -- big, blond and English-speaking -- thrust himself halfway out the window and demanded the other drivers let him into their lane of traffic.
But after a few turns we had no idea where we were or how to get where we wanted to go. The thought crossed my mind that we might spend the rest of our lives lost in Mexico City traffic. More turns. We were on the verge of panic as I frantically tried to find our location on the map.
Then I looked up when my husband suddenly relaxed and grinned, "Look," he said, pointing to a sign overhead. It had an arrow showing the way to Cuernavaca.
"How did that happen?" I wondered aloud. We all laughed as our unspoken fear disappeared.
In reading today's Gospel, I recall that incident and can imagine Jesus sitting on the console saying, "Where's your faith?"
God has carried me safely through a lot of storms -- many harder and longer than those few harrowing hours in Mexico City. I'm learning to remember that and put my faith in what he already has shown me.
On the return trip I was tempted to worry about finding our way safely back to the rental-car agency, but instead I listened to the psalmist sitting on the console: "From their straits he rescued them and brought them to their desired haven."
QUESTIONS:
When were some times in your life when you felt seriously fearful? How was the situation resolved? How did God carry you through it?
SCRIPTURE TO BE ILLUSTRATED:
"From their straits he rescued them, he hushed the storm to a gentle breeze" (Psalm 107:28-29).
END
Copyright © 2009 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS Word To Life column may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service.
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