THIRTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Gospel: (Mark 5: 21-43)
When Jesus had crossed back to the other side of the Sea of Galilee in the boat, a large crowd gathered around him and he stayed close to the lake. One of the officials of the synagogue, a man named Jairus, came near. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet and made this earnest appeal: “My little daughter is critically ill. Please come and lay your hands on her so that she may get well and live.”…Jesus took the child’s father and mother and his own companions and entered the room where the child lay. Taking her hand he said to her, “Talitha, koum,” which means, “Little girl, get up.” The girl, a child of twelve, stood up immediately and began to walk around. At this the family’s astonishment was complete. He enjoined them strictly not to let anyone know about it, and told them to give her something to eat.

Reflection:
Just as Jairus overcame his fears in order to encounter Jesus and receive life, so we must surrender our own wills in order to encounter Jesus and receive life. Living the paschal mystery is none other than our daily dying to self—overcoming our fears and reaching out to Jesus in humility—in all the little, practical ways that fill our daily routines. Paschal mystery dying is as simple as smiling at the children even when we’re bone tired or taking an hour out of our day to visit the sick. When we surrender in humility to his goodness and power, Jesus offers us life and in this we encounter the Lord of life. (Living Liturgy, p.164)

Vincentian Meditation:
If St. Vincent de Paul was able to do so much for the poor of his day, it was because with his mind and heart he had come to know something of the length and breadth, the height and depth of the love of God that is in the heart of Jesus. As children of God, we must constantly be convincing ourselves in prayer of the excessive love with which God has reached out and is still reaching out to us each day and each moment of the day. If we are not convinced that God loves us as we are, even with our frailties, it will be very difficult for us to show the love of God to the poor. It is the work of humble prayer to come to know oneself as a person who is loved by God. It is the work of humble prayer to share that experience with the poor and to convince them that God cares for them. (McCullen, Deep Down Things, p292)

Discussion: (Share your thoughts on the readings after a moment of silence)

       How have you come to know that you are loved by God?

Closing Prayer:
       Jesus, give us the humility to know that you love us,
              -and to trust that you will answer our prayers.
       Jesus, give us the grace to share our faith in you with the poor,
              -and to convince them that you care for them. Amen