Today’s first reading is taken from the second-to-last section of the Book of Job, when the Lord speaks directly to Job. It is only a small part of what the Lord reminds Job—all in all, it takes three chapters to describe the Creator’s power—not only over the sea, but over every created thing.
The responsorial psalm is also a small part of a longer work. Taken from a hymn of thanksgiving from all those who the Lord has “redeemed from trouble,” this section describes those imperiled on the seas. Read or heard together, the two readings focus our attention on how Jesus exercises the very power of God in today’s gospel story, which takes place on the sea of Galilee.
The second reading, meanwhile, continues on an independent course through Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. It is in many ways part of a love letter, as Paul documents his love for Jesus Christ and repeatedly tries to help the Corinthian community to share in that love.
—BJ Brown
This Sunday’s readings can be found on the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website.
believe. teach. practice. 