13th Sunday of Ordinary Time
First Reading: Wisdom 1:13-15,2:23-24
God
did not make death, nor does he rejoice in the destruction of the
living. For he fashioned all things that they might have being; and the
creatures of the world are wholesome, And there is not a destructive
drug among them nor any domain of the nether world on earth, For justice
is undying. For God formed man to be imperishable; the image of his own
nature he made him. But by the envy of the devil, death entered the
world, and they who are in his possession experience it.
Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 8:7,9,13-15
Brothers and sisters, as you excel in every respect, in faith,
discourse, knowledge, all earnestness, and in the love we have for you,
may you excel in this gracious act also. For you know the gracious act
of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sake he became poor although he
was rich, so that by his poverty you might become rich. Not that others
should have relief while you are burdened, but that as a matter of
equality your surplus at the present time should supply their needs, so
that their surplus may also supply your needs, that there may be
equality. As it is written: "Whoever had much did not have more, and
whoever had little did not have less."
Gospel Reading: Mark 5:21-43
When
Jesus had crossed again (in the boat) to the other side, a large crowd
gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea. One of the
synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward. Seeing him he fell at
his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying, "My daughter is at the
point of death. Please, come lay your hands on her that she may get well
and live." He went off with him, and a large crowd followed him and
pressed upon him. There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for
twelve years. She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and
had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse.
She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and
touched his cloak. She said, "If I but touch his clothes, I shall be
cured." Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body
that she was healed of her affliction. Jesus, aware at once that power
had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who has
touched my clothes?" But his disciples said to him, "You see how the
crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, 'Who touched me?'" And he
looked around to see who had done it. The woman, realizing what had
happened to her, approached in fear and trembling. She fell down before
Jesus and told him the whole truth. He said to her, "Daughter, your
faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction." While
he was still speaking, people from the synagogue official's house
arrived and said, "Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any
longer?" Disregarding the message that was reported, Jesus said to the
synagogue official, "Do not be afraid; just have faith." He did not
allow anyone to accompany him inside except Peter, James, and John, the
brother of James. When they arrived at the house of the synagogue
official, he caught sight of a commotion, people weeping and wailing
loudly. So he went in and said to them, "Why this commotion and weeping?
The child is not dead but asleep." And they ridiculed him. Then he put
them all out. He took along the child's father and mother and those who
were with him and entered the room where the child was. He took the
child by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum," which means, "Little
girl, I say to you, arise!" The girl, a child of twelve, arose
immediately and walked around. (At that) they were utterly astounded. He
gave strict orders that no one should know this and said that she
should be given something to eat.
Reflection: Fr. James Theophilus
Jairus, the synagogue
official came to Jesus and asked him to come and heal her daughter because she
was at the point of death. Surely he had faith in God and in Jesus and that was
why he came and pleaded. (Faith was not expressed openly at this point). The
woman afflicted with haemorrhages for twelve years had faith in Jesus and that
is the reason she came and touched his clothes. (Faith was not expressed openly
at this point).
Jesus recognized the
faith of these two people though they did not express it openly and directly.
Jesus recognized the faith and that is why he told the woman: "Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of
your affliction." In the same way Jesus recognized the faith of
Jairus and Jesus was aware that the news that was brought about his daughter
was making him worry and hence Jesus said: "Do not be afraid; just have faith." Faith is what matters.
