Family Communion for the fourth Sunday after Trinity: celebrant the Revd Tola Badejo.

First reading: Job 38.1–11
Gospel: Mark 4.35–41

Today's readings are two of the most memorable in the Bible, linked by the themes of God's power over the universe and our need to trust him. The passage from Job conveys the sheer wonder of creation, but it also highlights another essential point: while God works on the grandest possible scale as the creator of the entire universe, he is also concerned with Job as an individual, speaking to him directly, and demanding a personal response from him. The detail above from an altarpiece by Giovanni do Paolo combines the same ideas; on the left is an image of the medieval concept of the universe, with the earth at the centre and the spheres of the planets surrounding it; the format of this page unfortunately cuts off the top of the painting, which shows that God is setting the whole universe in motion (a link to the full painting is below). On the right, Adam and Eve are expelled from Paradise, personally responsible for their actions but still individually cared for by God.

In the Gospel, the disciples face genuine danger; storms on inland lakes between hills and mountains can be sudden, vicious and deadly. Jesus shows that he has the same power and authority as God demonstrated to Job, thus revealing his true nature as a Person of the Trinity.

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