The God of kindness and compassion!
13th Sunday in ordinary Time, Year B. Wisdom 1:13-15; 2:23-24; Psalm 30; 2 Corinthians 8:7,9,13-15; Mark 5:21-43
Paul collection appeal for Jerusalem Church.
In the late ‘40s A.D. , a famine swept across Judea, and Christians in Jerusalem needed financial assistance. In response to the request made by the leaders of Jerusalem Church, Paul encouraged Christians to contribute to an offering to provide relief for the Church of Jerusalem. Giving is a virtue commended by Paul. He encouraged them to respond generously to the needs of others who are not from their community. Paul refers them to the hymn of Kenosis, i.e. self-emptying. In his letter written to the Philippians 2: 1-11, St. Paul reminds all Christians that they have directly benefited from Christ’s sacrifice, that is a free gift which should encourage them to always respond generously to others. Paul also insists here that everyone could only give according to what they have and no one will be held accountable before God for what they don’t have, but only for what they have. Paul is teaching stewardship by calling the Corinthians who have in abundance to give in abundance and those who have little to share the little they have with the impoverished Church in Jerusalem. For Paul, there will also be a time, when the Corinthians will be in need, then they should also expect help from other Churches around the globe.
The Church as a beautiful family
Paul is teaching us that the Church is a beautiful family where we help each other out. This understanding goes back to the Book of Exodus when the children of God were collecting manna in the wilderness (Exodus 16:18). God will keep providing for those who give generously as he did for the Community of Israel in the desert. Paul is speaking to us today and he is encouraging us to keep doing what we are doing for the less privileged in our Community. Our collections towards the outreach, the DSA, the Divine Mercy Foundation, the Pallottines formation, etc... are an indication that we are following the right paths as far as God’s calling to charity towards those in need is concerned. St. Paul is inviting and encouraging those associations, groups, individuals among us to give more for the need of the Parish, for the formation of priests in poor countries, for the help of feeding and education of poor people around us and in other poor countries, for the help of people with medical and housing difficulties. In helping those in need, we are imitating Jesus who is our helper in times of need (Hebrews 4:16).
Jesus is our response in times of desperation.
In his habitual method of “sandwich construction” (a different story is placed between the beginning and the end of another story). St. Mark reports the stories of two people in desperation. Jairus whose daughter is 12 years old is dying and the woman who has been suffering from hemorrhages for 12 years. They are both desperately seeking Jesus’ assistance with extraordinary faith. In both cases, Jesus shows compassion. He cares and shares in our sufferings. No wonder, Prophet Isaiah says:
“Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering” (Isaiah 53:4).
By healing the woman who has been suffering from hemorrhages for 12 years, Jesus restores our self esteem, and place in society, and gives us the possibility to start a new life. By restoring Jairus’ daughter to life, he indicates that in him the power of death is broken. The envy of the devil that brought death into the world (Wisdom 1:13) is conquered. Jesus will give eternal life to all who believe in him. Yes, with Jesus there is life-changing healing, as we have been created to share eternal life with God.
Blessed Mother of God, help us to have faith in Christ your Son and so respond generously to his invitation to eternal life by opening our hearts to the needs of others. Amen.
“Talitha Kum!”
Please pray for me on this day of my 16th anniversary of priestly ordination! Pray for vocation to the priesthood and support vocations in your own way!
Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO SAC
Living the Gospel this week.
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32)
Compassion
Jesus reveals his compassion to the woman and to the synagogue’s official. Jesus is caring and concerned about those who seek him in faith. He stops what he's doing to acknowledge the woman's faith and heals her instantly. Think of Jesus stopping everything he is doing to focus on you this week.
Spiritual salvation
The woman was instantly "healed" or "saved". This indicates that she also received spiritual salvation. Jesus wants us to be restored to a right relationship with God for eternity, not just physical healing.
Let us pray with the words of St Paul:
“Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:23.)
Happy Sunday 13th Sunday! Happy priestly anniversary to Fr. Gee!!!