Fear is a manifestation of lack of faith

January 30, 2016

Saturday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time

Saints of the Day: Saint Bathildes, Queen (c. 634-680), Blessed Columba Marmion (1858-1923)

Reading 1

2 Samuel 12:1-7a, 10-17

1The LORD sent Nathan to David, and when he came to him, Nathan said: “Judge this case for me! In a certain town there were two men, one rich, the other poor.[1]

2The rich man had flocks and herds in great numbers. 3But the poor man had nothing at all except one little ewe lamb that he had bought. He nourished her, and she grew up with him and his children. She shared the little food he had

and drank from his cup and slept in his bosom. She was like a daughter to him.

4Now, the rich man received a visitor, but he would not take from his own flocks and herds to prepare a meal for the wayfarer who had come to him. Instead he took the poor man’s ewe lamb and made a meal of it for his visitor.”

5David grew very angry with that man and said to him: “As the LORD lives, the man who has done this merits death! 6He shall restore the ewe lamb fourfold

because he has done this and has had no pity.”

7aThen Nathan said to David: “You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel:

10‘The sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me

and have taken the wife of Uriah to be your wife.’

11Thus says the LORD: ‘I will bring evil upon you out of your own house. I will take your wives while you live to see it, and will give them to your neighbor. He shall lie with your wives in broad daylight. 12You have done this deed in secret, but I will bring it about in the presence of all Israel, and with the sun looking down.’”

13Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan answered David: “The LORD on his part has forgiven your sin: you shall not die. 14But since you have utterly spurned the LORD by this deed, the child born to you must surely die.”

15Then Nathan returned to his house. The LORD struck the child that the wife of Uriah had borne to David, and it became desperately ill. 16David besought God for the child. He kept a fast, retiring for the night to lie on the ground clothed in sackcloth.

17The elders of his house stood beside him urging him to rise from the ground; but he would not, nor would he take food with them.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalms 51:12-13, 14-15, 16-17

R. (12a) Create a clean heart in me, O God.

12A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. 

13Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me.

R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.

14Give me back the joy of your salvation, and a willing spirit sustain in me. 15I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners shall return to you.

R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.

16Free me from blood guilt, O God, my saving God; then my tongue shall revel in your justice. 17O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.

R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.

Alleluia John 3;16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son,

so that everyone who believes in Him might have eternal life.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Mark 4:35-41

35On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to His disciples: “Let us cross to the other side.”[2] 36Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as He was. And other boats were with Him.

37A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. 38Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”

39He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!”

The wind ceased and there was great calm.[3] 40Then He asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” 41They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”[4] 

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Notes on Readings:

[1] 2 Samuel 12:1-4 -This utterance of Nathan is in regular lines in Hebrew, resembling English blank verse.

[2] Mark 4:35 - 5:43 - After the chapter on parables, Mark narrates four miracle stories: Mark 4;35-41; 5:1-20; and two joined together in Mark 5:21-43. See also the footnotes on Matthew 8:23-34 and 9:8-26.

[3] Mark 4:39 - Quiet! Be still!: as in the case of silencing a demon (Mark 1:25), Jesus rebukes the wind and subdues the turbulence of the sea by a mere word; see the footnote on Matthew 8:26.

[4] Mark 4:41 - Jesus is here depicted as exercising power over wind and sea. In the Christian community this event was seen as a sign of Jesus' saving presence amid persecutions that threatened its existence.