July 1, 2018

13th Sun., Ordinary Time

July 1, 2018:  Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

  • 'Clock' pin:  God's anger lasts but a moment; his good will, a lifetime (psalm)
  • 'Money bag' pin:  Though Jesus was rich, he became poor so you might become rich; Paul's collection (2nd reading)
  • 'Sailboat' tie bar:  Jesus crossed again in the boat (gospel)
  • 'Feet' tie pin:  Jairus fell at Jesus' feet (gospel)
  • 'Hands' tie:  “Please, come lay your hands on my daughter..." (gospel)
  • 'Blood drop' pin:  Jesus cured hemorrhaging woman (gospel)
  • 'Peace sign' tie bar:  "Go in peace" (gospel)
  • 'Walker' tie pin:  Girl, healed, walked around (gospel)
  • Green shirt:  Ordinary Time season
Listen

For the gospel
For Psalm 30
For future Sundays
Jesus, source of life, restores life to those who trust in him.  Faith is at the center of the miracles of today's gospel.  No one is excluded from the Lord’s saving love.  Nobody should feel like an intruder, illegal, or someone without access to Jesus’ heart.  The only requirement is to feel in need of healing and entrust yourself to him.  Jesus recognizes the people in the crowd who have faith and yearn for healing, removes them from anonymity, frees them from the fear of living and daring with a word or glance, and puts them back on the path.
The only death we should fear is that of a hardened heart.  The hemorrhaging woman was healed as soon as she touched Jesus’ cloak; her faith led to salvation.  The themes of faith and the life Jesus offers are interwoven.  Jesus is the Lord, and for him physical death is like sleep:  there's no reason to despair.  The death to fear is a heart hardened by evil!  But for Jesus, even sin isn't the last word, because He brought us the Father's mercy.  If we fall, he says, "Arise!"  Ask Our Lady to accompany us on our journey of faith and love, especially towards those in need.
Read

  • Ps 30:2, 4-6, 11-13  "I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me."  Your anger lasts but a moment; your good will, a lifetime.  At nightfall, weeping; with dawn, rejoicing.  You changed my mourning into dancing.
  • 2 Cor 8:7, 9, 13-15  As you excel in faith, discourse, knowledge, earnestness, and love, may you excel in this too.  Though Jesus was rich, he became poor for your sake, so that by his poverty you might become rich.  Your abundance should supply others' needs, so theirs may supply yours too.
    Christ healing a
    woman with an issue of blood
    (Veronese)
  • Mk 5:21-43  Synagogue official Jairus pleaded with Jesus:  “Please; lay your hands on my daughter that she may live.”  They went off.  A woman afflicted with hemorrhages for 12 years who was growing worse touched Jesus' cloak, saying, “If I but touch his clothes, I'll be cured.”  Immediately her blood flow dried up.  Jesus / disciples:  “Who touched my clothes?” / “See how the crowd is pressing upon you....”  The woman told Jesus everything.  “Your faith has saved you.  Go in peace, cured.”  Then people from house of Jairus arrived:  “Your daughter has died.”  Jesus:  “Don't be afraid; have faith.”  At his house:  “Why this commotion?  She's asleep, not dead.”  They ridiculed him.  He took the child by the hand and said, “Little girl, arise!”  She arose and walked around; all were astounded....
Reflect

  • Creighton:  Today's readings remind us that God creates, desires, and values life.  Today's 1st reading insists that humans are made imperishable for God.  We enter death because of sin, and bringing about others' death is sin.  Today's gospel shows Jesus healing the sick and raising the dead.  The 2nd reading asserts we've been given the gifts we need to care for others' needs and our own.  We must be willing to share our gifts so that all may have life to the full.  If we don't respect our lives and the lives of the most vulnerable, we're engaging in the work of death.  May we thank God for and enjoy the gift of eucharistic life, life of thanksgiving and sharing with others....
  • One Bread, One Body:  "Good news, not bad news":  Jesus rejected humanity's interpretation of the girl's death; he put the naysayers out of the room. He saw beyond externals to the heart of the matter.  Like him, refuse to allow the world's messengers to force-feed you their news; be formed/transformed by the Good News, and form the world through your transformed life.  Transform bad news into Good News by praying it.  Spend more time listening to to the Father than to newscasters. Immerse yourself in the Gospels and "believe the Good News."
  • Passionist:  In The Gift of Peace, Cardinal Bernardin spoke of death as a friend he could embrace, but Scripture which endorses such trust in God also views death as an enemy.  Today’s 1st reading asserts “God did not make death”; it entered the world because humans made a pact with evil and invited it in.  God’s intent is that the world and life within it thrive.  The Gospel of Mark focuses on Jesus’ power to heal, to defeat death, and to restore life.  In his account of Jesus' baptism, he's infused with the Spirit, source of life, and the Father declares him his beloved Son.  Filled with that Spirit, Jesus begins to heal and overcome death.  Mark portrays the first day of Jesus’ ministry as nonstop healing; today's gospel recounts two more healings.  Though ancient medicine lacked today's scientific knowledge, there was some wisdom about sickness and healing.  One of the common words for illness was 'weakness' (Gk. astheneia); they considered thought a lack of life force caused illness.  Healing involved a transfer of vitality from healer to sick person.  Jesus, filled with God’s Spirit and so full of life force, touched the sick and restored them to life.  In the healings recounted today, power flowed out to the woman who touched Jesus, and Jesus’ touch restored life to the daughter of Jairus.  We are also called to be healers bringing life to the suffering. Understanding healing as a transfer of life force applies to the skill of a health care worker, the wisdom of a counselor or understanding listener, or the courage of those working for justice.
  • DailyScripture.net:  People in desperate circumstances weren't disappointed when they sought Jesus. He gave hope where there seemed to be no cause for it because his hope in God; he spoke words of hope to fire up their faith.  It took courage and risk for Jairus to go to Jesus, inviting scorn, but Jesus delivered the girl from death.  "This man was a synagogue ruler versed in the law.  He'd surely read that while God created other things by his word, he created man by his hand, so he trusted in God that his daughter would be restored to life by that same hand... " (St. Peter Chrysologus)  Jesus showed personal concern for others' needs and readiness to heal and restore life.  In Jesus God's love extends to each of us.  Do I approach him with confidence he'll hear me and act?
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