Homily 12th Sunday Ordinary Time Cycle B June 20, 2021

There was a famous quip from a Clint Eastwood movie years ago that said, “A man’s got to know his limitations.” Jesus would add, “So does nature.” Even the winds and sea need to know their limitations in God’s presence. For even God can shut them down as the Son of God did that day with his Disciples. What’s the advantage to us knowing and living our limitations, especially in a modern world that attempts to remove all limitations? First, we won’t try to do something we know we cannot do. We’re humble enough to know we cannot throw a touchdown pass in a Super Bowl game. Maybe in the backyard we can, if you don’t have to throw it more than five yards to your grandchild. Knowing our limitations allows us to make practical decisions along this Road to Emmaus, understanding that many situations require us to stay on the sidelines and watch. To simply be a fan or witness to events, which the Disciples did in this Gospel as Jesus commanded the winds and sea to calm down. If the storm reappeared later that day and they were out on the boat and things started to get nerve-wracking, and they commanded the sea and winds to be calm without Jesus with them, the winds and sea would have said to the Disciples, “Get lost. I don’t know you. Get ready to drown.” Limitations. The day would arrive much later, when their faith in Jesus was overflowing, when they could command the sea and winds to be still, and they would be obeyed. Because they would heal the sick, raise the dead, cure the blind and lame, preach salvation in truth and confidence, which is much greater than commanding the sea and winds to be quiet. Their faith in their Lord and Savior would go on to move mountains, which I’ve been blessed to witness countless times from the steadfast faith of many folks in this faith community of Immaculate Conception over the years. Ours is a Christian faith that not only knows limitations, that we are dependent upon Christ for our salvation, but a faith that also bears good fruit. It is limitless in this regard. This is a holy combination for us. Our faith understands that we are not God. We are not puffed up and filled with pride that leads to us pretending to be the Creator of the universe. We know that is God is God alone, and we are subjects to him. We are presently his hands, his feet, his voice and virtues. We don’t go around debasing people, calling them violent, ugly names that would never be spoken by any God-fearing person. The greatness of our faith in Christ is that any limitations we have, our faith in Jesus removes them in relation to doing the good. This is the story of the Disciples, and it’s our story too. Without faith in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, we handcuff ourselves, we chain ourselves to a fence that prevents us from bringing forth God’s kingdom around us. This is why the Lord asks them the question, “Do you not yet have faith?” He’s saying to them, “When is your faith really going to kick in and produce some great events? I want you to do some great things for me, like feed the poor, visit the sick, protect the unborn child, heal the sick and even raise the dead. But this won’t happen if you don’t have faith in me as your Messiah.” Our faith in Christ is central to our lives. It truly is the precious pearl. It unleashes all the good potential that bears good fruit and brings peace to the world. We can ask the question, “How about the many people who are not religious (atheists, agnostics), yet produce good fruit?” And my answer is, “We thank God for their much good, but the greater good they could produce is not realized where there is any lack of faith.” A person’s lack of faith in God will create limitations in their lives even if they are what we call “a good person who does good things.” Our faith in Christ knocks down all potential limitations for doing good works so we reach our potential, each according to our measure. So, yes, we do have limitations in our lives. Not all of us can sing on America’s Got Talent or The Voice. Most of us would be thrown off the stage. But all of us who have abiding faith in our Lord Jesus have no limitations when concerned with building up the Kingdom of God in our midst. “Do you not yet have faith?” Go out there and calm the sea and winds through your faith in Christ, and don’t make them more turbulent through politics supplanting your faith. The possibilities of transforming the world for Christ are endless, but it has to be done in his name, and that of his Blessed Mother.