Sunday, July 1, 2018
THIRTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Wisdom 1:13-15;2:23-24/ Psalm 29:2,4-6,11-13/2 Corinthians 8:7,9,13-15/ Mark 5:21-43 or 5:21-24,35b-43)
FAITH SAVES! DO NOT BE AFRAID
Beloved, in the accounts or stories of creation, God did not create death ([Genesis] Chapters 1 and 2). Death entered the world through sin. We fear death, but we want to go to heaven. Death is a natural change over. Death is the most notorious criminal that no security can arrest. We have often asked, why death? Why this or that person? Why so soon? Where human reasoning fails to answer these questions, faith must be applied. Even though we have natural death at a good old age, we see people die through wars, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, poison, abortion, alcohol, drugs, suicide, etc. The souls of the righteous are with God forever. God is ever alive. God is life and he is the Giver of life. God wants us to have life and have it to the full. In a different context, a person dies, when he or she stops loving. Let us love one another, value life and live good and fulfilled lives and we shall never regret.
St. Paul, in our today's second reading, accepted to appeal for support or to help organise collections for the poor and needy brothers and sisters in Jerusalem, who were suffering because of famine. St. Paul encouraged the Corinthian Christian community, to be generous because of Christ's love and generosity. Mahatma Ghandi said, "the world's resources are enough for our human NEED, but they are not enough for our human GREED." What am I keeping all the money, clothes, houses, vehicles, land, food and other resources for, when a brother or sister is suffering? Why ignore the person in need now and spend money on such a person's funeral? Imagine a dead person being staged or being carried on a bier! Imagine the decomposed body or bones of a fellow human being and stop being greedy or stingy. Let us learn to share or be generous.
Friends, our today's Gospel reading encourages us to have faith in Jesus. Jesus has the power to heal the sick and to raise the dead. Jesus can change our hopeless, useless and meaningless human situations into hopeful, useful and meaningful ones. When we have faith, Jesus can turn our mourning, distress and sorrow into joy. Sickness, death and misfortunes bring sorrow. When we ourselves, our relatives and friends are sick, what do we do or where do we go to? How do I treat or look at people who are emotionally, physically, psychologically or spiritually sick or dead. The sick and bereaved need our prayers, comfort, consolation, sympathies, presence, gentle touch, understanding and support in any way possible.
The woman in our today's Gospel reading, suffered from haemorrhage for twelve years. Jairus' daughter was only twelve years. May no one suffer from sickness for long? May we not spend all we have on medical bills. May we not die young. May our faith and hope in God be strong. May our love, care, concern and generosity for/towards one another be genuine. BE BLESSED.
Fr. Gaa (0206854323/0240308878)