Reading 1
Wis 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 netherworld 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 belong to his company experience it.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11, 12, 13

R. (2a) I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
I will extol you, O LORD, for you drew me clear
and did not let my enemies rejoice over me.
O LORD, you brought me up from the netherworld;
you preserved me from among those going down into the pit.
R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
Sing praise to the LORD, you his faithful ones,
and give thanks to his holy name.
For his anger lasts but a moment;
a lifetime, his good will.
At nightfall, weeping enters in,
but with the dawn, rejoicing.
R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
Hear, O LORD, and have pity on me;
O LORD, be my helper.
You changed my mourning into dancing;
O LORD, my God, forever will I give you thanks.
R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.

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 though he was rich, for your sake he became poor,
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 abundance at the present time should supply their needs,
so that their abundance 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
Mk 5:21-43 or 5:21-24, 35b-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 Jesus,
"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.

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.

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.

Pray a Rosary each day for our nation.

Pray the Rosary

1. Sign of the Cross: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

2. The Apostles Creed: I BELIEVE in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

3. The Lord's Prayer: OUR Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

4. (3) Hail Mary: HAIL Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and in the hour of our death. Amen. (Three times)

5. Glory Be: GLORY be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Fatima Prayer: Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of your mercy.

Announce each mystery, then say 1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, 1 Glory Be and 1 Fatima prayer. Repeat the process with each mystery.

End with the Hail Holy Queen:

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve! To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears! Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us; and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus!

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Final step -- The Sign of the Cross

The Mysteries of the Rosary

By tradition, Catholics meditate on these Mysteries during prayers of the Rosary.
The biblical references follow each of the Mysteries below.

The Glorious Mysteries
(Wednesdays and Sundays)
1.The Resurrection (Matthew 28:1-8, Mark 16:1-18, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-29) [Spiritual fruit - Faith]
2. The Ascension (Mark 16:19-20, Luke 24:50-53, Acts 1:6-11) [Spiritual fruit - Christian Hope]
3. The Descent of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:1-13) [Spiritual fruit - Gifts of the Holy Spirit]
4. The Assumption [Spiritual fruit - To Jesus through Mary]
5. The Coronation [Spiritual fruit - Grace of Final Perseverance]

June Devotion: The Sacred Heart

Since the 16th century Catholic piety has assigned entire months to special devotions. The month of June is set apart for devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. "From among all the proofs of the infinite goodness of our Savior none stands out more prominently than the fact that, as the love of the faithful grew cold, He, Divine Love Itself, gave Himself to us to be honored by a very special devotion and that the rich treasury of the Church was thrown wide open in the interests of that devotion." These words of Pope Pius XI refer to the Sacred Heart Devotion, which in its present form dates from the revelations given to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque in 1673-75.

The devotion consists in the divine worship of the human heart of Christ, which is united to His divinity and which is a symbol of His love for us. The aim of the devotion is to make our Lord king over our hearts by prompting them to return love to Him (especially through an act of consecration by which we offer to the Heart of Jesus both ourselves and all that belongs to us) and to make reparation for our ingratitude to God.

INVOCATION

O Heart of love, I put all my trust in Thee; for I fear all things from my own weakness, but I hope for all things from Thy goodness.
Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque

PRAYER TO THE SACRED HEART

Devotion to the Sacred Heart was the characteristic note of the piety of Saint Gertrude the Great (1256-1302), Benedictine nun and renowned mystic. She was, in fact, the first great exponent of devotion to the Sacred Heart. In our efforts to honor the Heart of Jesus we have this prayer as a model for our own:
Hail! O Sacred Heart of Jesus, living and quickening source of eternal life, infinite treasure of the Divinity, and burning furnace of divine love. Thou art my refuge and my sanctuary, 0 my amiable Savior. Consume my heart with that burning fire with which Thine is ever inflamed. Pour down on my soul those graces which flow from Thy love, and let my heart be so united with Thine, that our wills may be one, and mine in all things be conformed to Thine. May Thy divine will be equally the standard and rule of all my desires and of all my actions. Amen.
Saint Gertrude

FOR THE CHURCH

O most holy Heart of Jesus, shower Thy blessings in abundant measure upon Thy holy Church, upon the Supreme Pontiff and upon all the clergy; to the just grant perseverance; convert sinners; enlighten unbelievers; bless our relations, friends and benefactors; assist the dying; deliver the holy souls in purgatory; and extend over all hearts the sweet empire of Thy love. Amen.

A PRAYER OF TRUST

O God, who didst in wondrous manner reveal to the virgin, Margaret Mary, the unsearchable riches of Thy Heart, grant that loving Thee, after her example, in all things and above all things, we may in Thy Heart find our abiding home.
Roman Missal

ACT OF LOVE

Reveal Thy Sacred Heart to me, O Jesus, and show me Its attractions. Unite me to It for ever. Grant that all my aspirations and all the beats of my heart, which cease not even while I sleep, may be a testimonial to Thee of my love for Thee and may say to Thee: Yes, Lord, I am all Thine;
pledge of my allegiance to Thee rests ever in my heart will never cease to be there. Do Thou accept the slight amount of good that I do and be graciously pleased to repair all m] wrong-doing; so that I may be able to bless Thee in time and in eternity. Amen.
Cardinal Merry del Val

MEMORARE TO THE SACRED HEART
Remember, O most sweet Jesus, that no one who has had recourse to Thy Sacred Heart, implored its help, or sought it mercy was ever abandoned. Encouraged with confidence, O tenderest of hearts, we present ourselves before Thee, crushes beneath the weight of our sins. In our misery, O Sacred Hear. of Jesus, despise not our simple prayers, but mercifully grant our requests.

Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954

Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Devotion to the Sacred Heart Today
The Biblical Foundation of Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus [Ecumenical]
Heart to Heart (Sacred Heart of Jesus Devotion) [St. Margaret Mary Alacoque]

(June) The Month of the Sacred Heart {Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
First Friday Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus [St. Margaret Mary Alacoque]
The Heart of the World (On the Sacred Heart of Jesus) (Catholic Caucus)
The Sacred Heart Is The Holy Eucharist(Catholic Caucus)
The Origin of the Sacred Heart Badge

Importance of Devotion to the Sacred Heart
An Awesome Homily on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus by Father Edmond Kline
Catholic Prayer and Devotion: June the Month of the Sacred Heart
Catholic Devotions: Sacred Heart of Jesus
Pope Urges Jesuits to Spread Sacred Heart Devotion

Homilies preached by Father Altier on the Feast of the Sacred Heart
Catholic Meditation and Devotion: The Sacred Heart of Jesus
Daily Recomendation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus powerful prayer!
The Sacred Heart and the Eucharist
The Love of the Sacred Heart

On the Sacred Heart - "We Adore God's Love of Humanity"
HAURIETIS AQUAS (On Devotion To The Sacred Heart) - Encyclical by Pope Pius XII
Solemnity Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary
Sacred Heart a Feast of God's Love, Says John Paul II
The Sacred Heart of Jesus: Symbol of Combativity and the Restoration of Christendom

Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus-The Early Church, Middle Ages up to St. Margaret Mary
See this Heart
‘God Will Act and Will Reign’
About Devotion To The Sacred Heart:The Story Of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque
Rediscover Feast of Sacred Heart, John Paul II Tells Youth

From: Wisdom 1:13-15; 2:23-24

Life and Death

[13] [B]ecause God did not make death,
and he does not delight in the death of the living.
[14] For he created all things that they might exist,
and the generative forces of the world are wholesome,
and there is no destructive poison in them;
and the dominion of Hades is not on earth.
[15] For righteousness is immortal.

The origin of evil and death

[23] [F]or God created man for incorruption,
and made him in the image of his own eternity,
[24] but through the devil’s envy death entered the world,
and those who belong to his party experience it.

*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:

1:12-15. The central assertion here is that God is not the author of death, but
that death came as a result of sin. This leads the inspired writer to see physical
death as a symbol of spiritual death, which is true death, that is, permanent se-
paration from God (cf. 3:1-9). These words become clearer in the light of 2:23-24,
and from them St Paul interprets that death is a result of original sin (cf. Rom 5:
12-15). These verses of Wisdom mean that we can take an optimistic view of
created things; the germ of corruption does not come from creation, for God is
the author of life and what God desires – righteousness – never dies.

1:16-2:24. This section describes the way the ungodly think and behave, and
their error in so doing. Righteousness is immortal; but the ungodly think that life
ends at death and therefore they try to strike a bargain with death (1:16-2:19).
Moreover, they hound the righteous man because he thinks and acts differently
from the way they do (2:10-20). They have no idea what life is all about (2:21-24).

2:21-24. The mistake of the ungodly is to think that nothing lies beyond death.
But this way of thinking stems from the wickedness of their lives which prevents
them from knowing God’s purposes and causes them to despise the way upright
people live. The inspired author takes issue with them and spells out God’s plan
for man and how death came to be (vv. 23-24). But here again “death” has a far-
reaching meaning: it means losing that incorruptibility which, as the author sees
it, lies beyond physical death. The death that entered the world through the
devil’s envy, the death experienced by those who belong to the devil’s “party”,
means to be reduced to nothing, to become “dishonored corpses” (4:18), through
losing the incorruptibility that comes from God. What the author is saying here
presupposes the Genesis account of how man was created in the image and like-
ness of God (Gen 1:26) and therefore with a seed of immortality, and how the devil
tempted man to commit the original sin that resulted in the loss of immortality (cf.
Gen 3-4). But the author of Wisdom goes further than that: he says that only
those who belong to the devil lose the “immortality” (which he terms “incorrup-
tion”) of the human person as an entity made up of soul and body. On the basis
of this interpretation and in the light of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, St Paul
teaches that death, both physical and spiritual, reaches all human beings through
the sin committed by Adam; but Christ, the new Adam, redeems all from death.

The devil, in Greek “diabolos”, means “accuser, calumniator” and is the usual
translation given for the Hebrew “Satan”. These verses do not quote Genesis ex-
plicitly, but Genesis is in the background, for it is there we find the serpent iden-
tified as God’s enemy and man’s. The New Testament writer remind us that the
devil was a murderer from the beginning (cf. Jn 8:44); and in its account of the
battle between good and bad angels, the book of Revelation will say: “The great
dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who called the Devil and Satan,
the deceiver of the whole world” (Rev 12:9).

*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

From: 2 Corinthians 8:7, 9, 13-15

Appeal for Generosity

[7] Now as you excel in everything—in faith, in utterance, in knowledge, in all ear-
nestness, and in your love for us see that you excel in this gracious work also.

[9] For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich,
yet for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.
[13] I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, [14] but that
as a matter of equality your abundance at the present time should supply their
want, so that their abundance may supply your want, that there may be equality.
[15] As it is written,”He who gathered much had nothing over, and he who ga-
thered little had no lack.”

*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:

8:1-9:15. Now, taking for granted that the Corinthians trust him once more, the
Apostle begins the second part of his letter (chaps. 8-9), which has to do with
the collection for the faithful in Jerusalem, a collection which he organized not
only in Corinth but also in the other churches he had founded (cf. Rom 15:26; 1
Cor 16:1). This was indeed one of the points about which the apostolic council
at Jerusalem (cf. Gal 2:10; Acts 15) reminded the churches to remember the
poor, something St Paul always tried to do, as we can see clearly from these
pages.

In addition to alleviating the material needs of the “saints”—that is, the Christians
(cf. 1:1)—of the mother church, the Apostle sees this collection as a way of sho-
wing the fraternal unity Gentile converts have with that church (cf. 9:12-14).

He had already taken this matter up in 1 Corinthians 16:1-4; in fact, even before
that, a year earlier, the Corinthians had indicated that they wanted to help Jeru-
salem and had begun to collect funds (cf. 8:10; 9:2). He must be bringing it up
again—and at length—because the fervor of the Corinthians’ first charity must
have cooled somewhat due to the crisis in the Corinthian church.

It is interesting to note how delicately the Apostle broaches this subject: in the
original text there is no mention of “money” or “alms”. Instead, he uses more a
spiritual vocabulary—”grace”, “willing gift”, “love”, “relief of the saints”.

St Paul begins by citing the generosity of the Macedonians (8:1-6), and he then
goes on to appeal to the Corinthians (8:7-15). After recommending those whom
he is sending to organize the collection (8:16-24), he asks that it be done without
delay (9:1-5) and reminds them of the blessings that almsgiving brings (9:6-15).

1-15. St Paul wants to get the Corinthians to be generous. First, he points to the
example given by the Macedonians (vv. 1-6). Macedonia was one of the two pro-
vinces into which the Romans had divided Greece; Achaia, the other, had Corinth
as its capital (cf. note on 1:1-2). In Macedonia, from where the Apostle is writing,
there were Christian communities at Philippi, Thessalonica, and Beroea, which
he had founded during his second missionary journey (cf. Acts 16:17:15). He
plays on the natural rivalry between the two provinces, raising it onto a superna-
tural plane. He also mentions our Lord (v. 9), who, in his Incarnation and through-
out his life, gave us a wonderful example of generosity and detachment.
*********************************************************************************************
The Apostle also appeals directly to the Corinthians, reminding them of their ear-
lier readiness to contribute and encouraging them to complete what they started
to do so eagerly.

7-15. The Apostle now appeals directly to the generosity of the Corinthians and
reminds them of our Lord’s example (v. 9). They are already noted for other cha-
risms—”in faith, in utterance, in knowledge” (cf. 1 Cor 1:5; 12:8f); now they should
be seen to be outstanding in charity. He tells them this is not a command but ra-
ther advice (vv. 8, 10) and then encourages them to complete the collection they
have begun; it is not designed to impoverish them but to have them help those in
need.

7. “In your love for us”: the New Vulgate, which relies on the best Greek manu-
scripts, translates this as “in the love that we have given you”. St Paul is refer-
ring to Christian charity towards others, in which he formed them during the
years when he preached to them. The variant, found in RSV and other versions,
is not in our opinion as suitable to the context.

9. Jesus Christ is the example of detachment and generosity. Our Lord, because
he is God, was in need of nothing; but by becoming man he voluntarily despoiled
himself of the splendor of his divinity (cf. Phil 2:6f) and lived on earth as a poor
man—from his birth in poverty in Bethlehem to his death on the cross; sometimes
he did not even have the bare necessities of life (cf. Lk 9:58).

“If you do not believe that poverty is enriching,” St John Chrysostom comments,
“picture your Lord and you will doubt me no longer. For had he not become poor,
you could not have become rich. By a miracle which men cannot understand,
poverty has produced these riches—the knowledge of God and godliness, libera-
tionfrom sin, justification, sanctification, the countless good things which he has
bestowed on us and will bestow on us in the future. All those things have accrued
to us through his poverty—through his taking our flesh and becoming man and suf-
fering what he suffered. And yet, unlike us, he did not deserve punishment and
suffering” (”Hom. on 2 Cor.”, 17).

14. The spiritual abundance of the Christians of the church of Jerusalem can re-
lieve the spiritual indigence of the new Christians of Corinth (cf. 9:12-14). St Paul
also says in his Letter to the Romans in connection with this collection: “for if
the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they agree also to
be of service to them in material blessings” (15:27).

15. St Paul supports with the authority of Sacred Scripture what he has just
been saying about equity (v. 14), by referring to the manna which God miraculous-
ly nourished the people of Israel in the wilderness. Everyone was gathering the
manna — some more, other less—”when they measured it with an omer, he who
gathered much had nothing over, and he who gathered little had no lack; each
gathered according to what he could eat” (Ex 16:18). St Paul is saying some-
thing similar: every Christian should have what he needs, and should be helped
by his brothers in the faith wherever necessary.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

From: Mark 5:21-43

Jairus’ Daughter is Restored to Life.
The Curing of the Woman With a Hemorrhage

[21] And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great
crowd gathered about Him; and He was beside the sea. [22] Then came one
of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing Him, he fell at His
feet, [23] and besought Him, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death.
Come and lay Your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.”
[24] And He went with him.

And a great crowd followed Him and thronged about Him. [25] And there was a
woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years, [26] and who had suffered much
under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but
rather grew worse. [27] She had heard the reports about Jesus, and came up
behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. [28] For she said, “If I touch
even His garments, I shall be made well.” [29] And immediately the hemorrhage
ceased; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. [30] And
Jesus, perceiving in Himself that power had gone forth from Him, immediately
turned about in the crowd, and said, “Who touched My garments?” [31] And
His disciples said to Him, “You see the crowd pressing around You, and yet
You say, `Who touched Me?’” [32] And He looked around to see who had done
it. [33] But the woman, knowing what had been done to her, came in fear and
trembling and fell down before Him, and told Him the whole truth. [34] and He
said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed
of your disease.”

[35] While He was speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said,
“Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” [36] But ignoring
what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only be-
lieve.” [37] And He allowed no one to follow Him except Peter and James and
John the brother of James. [38] When they came to the house of the ruler of the
synagogue, He saw a tumult, and people weeping and wailing loudly. [39] And
when He had entered, He said to them, “Why do you make a tumult and weep?
The child is not dead but sleeping.” [40] And they laughed at Him. But He put
them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with
Him, and went in where the child was. [41] Taking her by the hand He said to
her, “Talitha cumi”; which means, “Little girl, I say to you arise.” [42] And im-
mediately the girl got up and walked; for she was twelve years old. And imme-
diately they were overcome with amazement. [43] And He strictly charged them
that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:

21-43. Both Jairus and the woman with the flow of blood give us an example of
faith in Christ’s omnipotence, for only a miracle can cure Jairus’ daughter, who
is on her death-bed, and heal this lady, who has done everything humanly pos-
sible to get better. Similarly, the Christian should always expect God to help
him overcome the obstacles in the way of his sanctification. Normally, God’s
help comes to us in an unspectacular way, but we should not doubt that, if it
is necessary for our salvation, God will again work miracles. However, we
should bear in mind that what the Lord expects of us is that we should every
day fulfill His will.

22. At the head of each synagogue was the archisynagogist, whose function
it was to organize the meetings of the synagogue on Sabbaths and holy days,
to lead the prayer and hymns and to indicate who should explain the Sacred
Scripture. He was assisted in his task by a council and also had an aide who
looked after the material side of things.

25. This woman suffered from an illness which implied legal impurity (Leviticus
14:25ff). Medical attention had failed to cure her; on the contrary, as the Gos-
pel puts it so realistically, she was worse than ever. In addition to her physical
suffering—which had gone on for twelve years—she suffered the shame of feeling
unclean according to the Law. The Jews not only regarded a woman in this po-
sition as being impure: everything she touched became unclean as well. There-
fore, in order not to be noticed by the people, the woman came up to Jesus from
behind and, out of delicacy, touched only His garment. Her faith is enriched by
her expression of humility: she is conscious of being unworthy to touch our Lord.
“She touched the hem of His garment, she approached Him in a spirit of faith,
she believed, and she realized that she was cured [...]. So we too, if we wish to
be saved, should reach out in faith to touch the garment of Christ” (St. Ambrose,
“Expositio Evangelii Sec. Lucam”, VI, 56 and 58).

30. In all that crowd pressing around Him only this woman actually touched
Jesus—and she touched Him not only with her hand but with the faith she bore
in her heart. St. Augustine comments: “She touches Him, the people crowd
Him. Is her touching not a sign of her belief?” (”In Ioann. Evang.”, 26, 3). We
need contact with Jesus. We have been given no other means under Heaven
by which to be saved (cf. Acts 4:12). When we receive Jesus in the Holy Eu-
charist, we obtain this physical contact through the sacramental species. We
too need to enliven our faith if these encounters with our Lord are to redound to
our salvation (cf. Matthew 13:58).

37. Jesus did not want more than these three Apostles to be present: three was
the number of witnesses laid down by the Law (Deuteronomy 19:15). “For Jesus,
being humble, never acted in an ostentatious way (Theophilactus, “Enarratio In
Evangelium Marci, in loc.”). Besides these were the three disciples closest to
Jesus: later, only they will be with Him at the Transfiguration (cf. 9:2) and at His
agony in the Garden of Gethsemane (cf. 14:33).

39. Jesus’ words are in contrast with those of the ruler’s servants; they say:
“Your daughter is dead”; whereas He says: “She is not dead but sleeping”. “To
men’s eyes she was dead, she could not be awoken; in God’s eyes she was
sleeping, for her soul was alive and was subject to God’s power, and her body
was resting, awaiting the Resurrection. Hence the custom which arose among
Christians of referring to the dead, whom we know will rise again, as those who
are asleep” (St. Bede, “In Marci Evangelium Expositio, in loc.”). What Jesus
says shows us that, for God, death is only a kind of sleep, for He can awaken
anyone from the dead whenever He wishes. The same happens with the death
and resurrection of Lazarus. Jesus says: “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep,
but I go to awaken him out of sleep.” And, when the disciples think that it is or-
dinary sleep He is referring to, our Lord tells them plainly: “Lazarus is dead” (cf.
John 11:11ff).

40-42. Like all the Gospel miracles the raising of the daughter of Jairus demon-
strates Christ’s divinity. Only God can work miracles; sometimes He does them
in a direct way, sometimes by using created things as a medium. The exclusive-
ly divine character of miracles—especially the miracle of raising the dead — is no-
ticed in the Old Testament: “The Lord wills and brings to life; He brings down to
Sheol and raises up” (1 Samuel 2:6), because He has “power over life and death”
(Wisdom 16:13). And also in the Old Testament God uses men to raise the
dead to life: the prophet Elijah revives the son of the widow of Sarepta by “crying
to the Lord” (cf. 1 Kings 17:21), and Elisha prevails on Him to raise the son of
the Shunammite (2 Kings 4:33).

In the same way, in the New Testament the Apostles do not act by their own
power but by that of Jesus to whom they first offer fervent prayer: Peter restores
to life a Christian woman of Joppa named Tabitha (Acts 9:36ff); and Paul, in
Troas, brings Eutychus back to life after he falls from a high window (Acts 20:7ff).
Jesus does not refer to any superior power; His authority is sovereign: all He has
to do is give the order and the daughter of Jairus is brought back to life; this
shows that He is God.

********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

Mass Readings

First reading	Wisdom 1:13-15,2:23-24 ©
Death was not God’s doing, he takes no pleasure in the extinction of the living. To be – for this he created all; the world’s created things have health in them, in them no fatal poison can be found, and Hades holds no power on earth; for virtue is undying. Yet God did make man imperishable, he made him in the image of his own nature; it was the devil’s envy that brought death into the world, as those who are his partners will discover.

First reading

Wisdom 1:13-15,2:23-24 ©

Death was not God’s doing,

he takes no pleasure in the extinction of the living.

To be – for this he created all;

the world’s created things have health in them,

in them no fatal poison can be found,

and Hades holds no power on earth;

for virtue is undying.

Yet God did make man imperishable,

he made him in the image of his own nature;

it was the devil’s envy that brought death into the world,

as those who are his partners will discover.

Psalm or canticle: Psalm 29:2,4-6,11-13

Second reading	2 Corinthians 8:7,9,13-15 ©
You always have the most of everything – of faith, of eloquence, of understanding, of keenness for any cause, and the biggest share of our affection – so we expect you to put the most into this work of mercy too. Remember how generous the Lord Jesus was: he was rich, but he became poor for your sake, to make you rich out of his poverty. This does not mean that to give relief to others you ought to make things difficult for yourselves: it is a question of balancing what happens to be your surplus now against their present need, and one day they may have something to spare that will supply your own need. That is how we strike a balance: as scripture says: The man who gathered much had none too much, the man who gathered little did not go short.

Second reading

2 Corinthians 8:7,9,13-15 ©

You always have the most of everything – of faith, of eloquence, of understanding, of keenness for any cause, and the biggest share of our affection – so we expect you to put the most into this work of mercy too. Remember how generous the Lord Jesus was: he was rich, but he became poor for your sake, to make you rich out of his poverty. This does not mean that to give relief to others you ought to make things difficult for yourselves: it is a question of balancing what happens to be your surplus now against their present need, and one day they may have something to spare that will supply your own need. That is how we strike a balance: as scripture says: The man who gathered much had none too much, the man who gathered little did not go short.

Gospel	Mark 5:21-43 ©
When Jesus had crossed in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered round him and he stayed by the lakeside. Then one of the synagogue officials came up, Jairus by name, and seeing him, fell at his feet and pleaded with him earnestly, saying, ‘My little daughter is desperately sick. Do come and lay your hands on her to make her better and save her life.’ Jesus went with him and a large crowd followed him; they were pressing all round him. Now there was a woman who had suffered from a haemorrhage for twelve years; after long and painful treatment under various doctors, she spent all she had without being any the better for it, in fact, she was getting worse. She had heard about Jesus, and she came up behind him through the crowd and touched his cloak. ‘If I can touch even his clothes,’ she had told herself ‘I shall be well again.’ And the source of the bleeding dried up instantly, and she felt in herself that she was cured of her complaint. Immediately aware that power had gone out from him, Jesus turned round in the crowd and said, ‘Who touched my clothes?’ His disciples said to him, ‘You see how the crowd is pressing round you and yet you say, “Who touched me?”’ But he continued to look all round to see who had done it. Then the woman came forward, frightened and trembling because she knew what had happened to her, and she fell at his feet and told him the whole truth. ‘My daughter,’ he said ‘your faith has restored you to health; go in peace and be free from your complaint.’ While he was still speaking some people arrived from the house of the synagogue official to say, ‘Your daughter is dead: why put the Master to any further trouble?’ But Jesus had overheard this remark of theirs and he said to the official, ‘Do not be afraid; only have faith.’ And he allowed no one to go with him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. So they came to the official’s house and Jesus noticed all the commotion, with people weeping and wailing unrestrainedly. He went in and said to them, ‘Why all this commotion and crying? The child is not dead, but asleep.’ But they laughed at him. So he turned them all out and, taking with him the child’s father and mother and his own companions, he went into the place where the child lay. And taking the child by the hand he said to her, ‘Talitha, kum!’ which means, ‘Little girl, I tell you to get up.’ The little girl got up at once and began to walk about, for she was twelve years old. At this they were overcome with astonishment, and he ordered them strictly not to let anyone know about it, and told them to give her something to eat.

Gospel

Mark 5:21-43 ©

When Jesus had crossed in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered round him and he stayed by the lakeside. Then one of the synagogue officials came up, Jairus by name, and seeing him, fell at his feet and pleaded with him earnestly, saying, ‘My little daughter is desperately sick. Do come and lay your hands on her to make her better and save her life.’ Jesus went with him and a large crowd followed him; they were pressing all round him.

Now there was a woman who had suffered from a haemorrhage for twelve years; after long and painful treatment under various doctors, she spent all she had without being any the better for it, in fact, she was getting worse. She had heard about Jesus, and she came up behind him through the crowd and touched his cloak. ‘If I can touch even his clothes,’ she had told herself ‘I shall be well again.’ And the source of the bleeding dried up instantly, and she felt in herself that she was cured of her complaint. Immediately aware that power had gone out from him, Jesus turned round in the crowd and said, ‘Who touched my clothes?’ His disciples said to him, ‘You see how the crowd is pressing round you and yet you say, “Who touched me?”’ But he continued to look all round to see who had done it. Then the woman came forward, frightened and trembling because she knew what had happened to her, and she fell at his feet and told him the whole truth. ‘My daughter,’ he said ‘your faith has restored you to health; go in peace and be free from your complaint.’

While he was still speaking some people arrived from the house of the synagogue official to say, ‘Your daughter is dead: why put the Master to any further trouble?’ But Jesus had overheard this remark of theirs and he said to the official, ‘Do not be afraid; only have faith.’ And he allowed no one to go with him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. So they came to the official’s house and Jesus noticed all the commotion, with people weeping and wailing unrestrainedly. He went in and said to them, ‘Why all this commotion and crying? The child is not dead, but asleep.’ But they laughed at him. So he turned them all out and, taking with him the child’s father and mother and his own companions, he went into the place where the child lay. And taking the child by the hand he said to her, ‘Talitha, kum!’ which means, ‘Little girl, I tell you to get up.’ The little girl got up at once and began to walk about, for she was twelve years old. At this they were overcome with astonishment, and he ordered them strictly not to let anyone know about it, and told them to give her something to eat.

Alternative gospel	Mark 5:21-24,35-43 ©
When Jesus had crossed in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered round him and he stayed by the lakeside. Then one of the synagogue officials came up, Jairus by name, and seeing him, fell at his feet and pleaded with him earnestly, saying, ‘My little daughter is desperately sick. Do come and lay your hands on her to make her better and save her life.’ Jesus went with him and a large crowd followed him; they were pressing all round him. While he was still speaking some people arrived from the house of the synagogue official to say, ‘Your daughter is dead: why put the Master to any further trouble?’ But Jesus had overheard this remark of theirs and he said to the official, ‘Do not be afraid; only have faith.’ And he allowed no one to go with him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. So they came to the official’s house and Jesus noticed all the commotion, with people weeping and wailing unrestrainedly. He went in and said to them, ‘Why all this commotion and crying? The child is not dead, but asleep.’ But they laughed at him. So he turned them all out and, taking with him the child’s father and mother and his own companions, he went into the place where the child lay. And taking the child by the hand he said to her, ‘Talitha, kum!’ which means, ‘Little girl, I tell you to get up.’ The little girl got up at once and began to walk about, for she was twelve years old. At this they were overcome with astonishment, and he ordered them strictly not to let anyone know about it, and told them to give her something to eat.

Alternative gospel

Mark 5:21-24,35-43 ©

Little Girl, Arise!

June 27th, 2009 by Fr. Jack Peterson

I lost my mother 10 months ago when she died of complications due to emphysema and old age. I have come to know that it is quite painful to lose a parent, especially if they have played a strong, supportive role in our lives. My mom was the matriarch of our family. She planted the seeds of faith in us, acted as a great source of unity for the family, taught us many lessons about life, fed us like royalty, lent us her ear and gave us advice, and loved us with a mother’s tender love. Her departure from this world has left a hole in our lives which aches, often at some of the strangest moments.

As painful as this experience has been, I know that there are worse kinds of suffering in our world. One of the greatest forms of suffering on this earth is when a parent endures the death of a child. Jesus encounters such a tragedy in today’s Gospel passage when a synagogue official named Jairus is informed that his twelve-year old daughter has died. Our Lord demonstrates tremendous compassion for this man and his heartbreaking tragedy. In fact, Jesus is deeply moved by his pain and offers him a totally unexpected gift. Jesus goes to the girl’s home, brings the mother and father into her room, and raises her from the dead with the words, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!” Jesus actually restores her to life and reunites the sorrowing family.

Through the eyes of faith, we see Jesus acting with great charity and power in this Gospel scene. Yet, Jesus is asking us to look even deeper into the meaning of this event. A key to this deeper meaning can be found in our Lord’s words to Jairus after he receives news of his daughter’s death: “Do not be afraid. Just have faith.”

Jesus is reminding us by word and deed that He is the God of the living and the dead; He is Lord of life. He demonstrates His lordship by raising this precious child from the dead. He restores her to her family by returning her to this present life. However, Jesus comes to do much more than give this little girl another 60 or 70 years on this earth. Jesus comes to redeem the world from sin, to repair our broken relationship with our Heavenly Father, and to open the gates to eternal life. His ultimate goal is to make it possible that every person ever conceived could be united with the Holy Trinity in an intimate bond of faith and love for all eternity.

Faith in this great truth that God offers his life and love to us freely and that He desires to draw us up into his very existence for all eternity transforms our lives on this earth and dispels fear. “Perfect love drives out all fear” (1 Jn 4:18). If we truly believe in Jesus, if we accept that He is the way, the truth and the life, then our lives on this earth are marked by a peace, a humble confidence and a joy that this world cannot give. We find ourselves with nothing real to fear. It is such an incredible blessing to go through life with this kind of faith and trust in God.

When I think of my mother these days, I still feel the ache in my heart that she is not here to call, to visit, to kiss on the forehead, to share a meal with or to go for a ride in the car with. However, in my sorrow I am deeply comforted by Christ and my faith in Him. I find tremendous comfort in knowing that Jesus died on the cross for my mother. I take great pleasure in pondering the fact that God has welcomed her into His eternal embrace where s is loved more than I can possibly imagine. I am grateful for all that Christ suffered and endured so that He could say to my mom from heaven, “Little girl, arise!”

Fr. Peterson is Campus Minister at Marymount University in Arlington and interim director of the Youth Apostles Institute. (This article courtesy of the Arlington Catholic Herald.)

The Work of God

Year B

- 13th Sunday in ordinary time

Little girl, I tell you: get up.

Mark 5:21-43

21 And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him; and he was beside the sea.
22 Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Ja'irus by name; and seeing him, he fell at his feet,
23 and besought him, saying, "My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live."
24 And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him.
25 And there was a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years,
26 and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse.
27 She had heard the reports about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment.
28 For she said, "If I touch even his garments, I shall be made well."
29 And immediately the hemorrhage ceased; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.
30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone forth from him, immediately turned about in the crowd, and said, "Who touched my garments?"
31 And his disciples said to him, "You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, `Who touched me?'"
32 And he looked around to see who had done it.
33 But the woman, knowing what had been done to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him, and told him the whole truth.
34 And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease."
35 While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler's house some who said, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?"
36 But ignoring what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not fear, only believe."
37 And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James.
38 When they came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, he saw a tumult, and people weeping and wailing loudly.
39 And when he had entered, he said to them, "Why do you make a tumult and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping."
40 And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside, and took the child's father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was.
41 Taking her by the hand he said to her, "Tal'itha cu'mi"; which means, "Little girl, I say to you, arise."
42 And immediately the girl got up and walked (she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement.
43 And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Inspiration of the Holy Spirit - From the Sacred Heart of Jesus

13th Sunday in ordinary time - Little girl, I tell you: get up.

I am the resurrection and the life. All power has been given to me by my Heavenly Father, to be the source of life, health and eternal life.

I am compassionate, generous and loving. I desire to extend my riches to any one who has faith in me and loves me. I promised that I would be with you until the end of time and indeed I am with you now, because I am faithful to my word.

Those who had faith in me received the benefit of my miracles during my time on earth, and those who believe in the power of my name and acknowledge the holiness of my spirit will see miracles and wonders happening before their eyes. I am the Word of God; therefore what I say is true.

That woman, who had a constant hemorrhage for twelve years and had spent all her money on doctors and medicines, heard about me. She decided to put all her trust in me. “If I just touch his garments, I shall be healed." And I rewarded her faith by granting her a miracle.

Jairus, a ruler of the Synagogue came to me in desperation because his daughter was dying, he knelt before me and asked me to lay my hands on her so that she could live. I agreed to come with him. But while we were on the way, he received a message that his daughter had died already. I reassured him saying, “do not fear, but believe.” This man believed, others even laughed at me when I told them that she would awake.

At my command, the little girl woke up and started moving around, to the amazement of the group of unbelievers.

Is there anything too wonderful for God? Is there anything impossible for me who am life? Is there anything impossible for me, Jesus Christ, the Word of God that created everything that exists?

I tell you solemnly, I am life, I have the power to heal and restore anyone who has faith. I did wonderful things when I was in the flesh, and I still do them now in the spirit. I gave the power to heal to my apostles and I still give it to those who truly believe in me.

Ask with faith and you shall be given. Believe firmly in me and you shall obtain what you ask in prayer, provided that is in accordance to the will of God.

Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in your prayers. Your prayers must not be just requests of healing. Before you ask for anything, remember what I have asked of you in my word. Like the faithful and humble people who received my miracles in the past; come before me with a humble and contrite heart, enter my courts with thanksgiving and praise, worship the Lord your God and you will receive blessings and graces every time.

Author: Joseph of Jesus and Mary

Thirteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time

By Brian Pizzalato *

First Reading – Wis. 1:13-15; 2:23-24

Responsorial Psalm – Ps. 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11, 12, 13

Second Reading – 2 Cor. 8:7, 9, 13-15

Gospel Reading – Mk. 5:21-43

In this Sunday’s Gospel reading from Mark, we encounter Jesus miraculously curing a woman who was hemorrhaging for twelve years, and Jesus raising Jairus’ daughter from the dead.

Mary Healy in her commentary, The Gospel of Mark, notes: “…Mark sandwiches one story in the middle of the other. There are several points of correspondence between the two. The woman has suffered bleeding for as long as the girl has lived, twelve years. The woman reaches out her hand to Jesus, whereas Jesus takes the girl by the hand. The healing of the woman who lived with the slow encroachment of death anticipates the healing of the girl who actually experienced death” (pp. 104-105).

The woman and the girl give us an example of suffering and death. This leads us to the Gospel readings connection to the Old Testament reading from the book of Wisdom.

Wisdom and Genesis

Where did suffering and death come from? Wisdom first tells us who it did not come from: “God did not make death, and he does not delight in the death of the living…for he created man for incorruption…” (1:13, 23a). But, it does answer the question of how: “Through the devil’s envy death entered the world…”

As the book of Wisdom is wont to do, it leads us back to themes in the book of Genesis. We read in the passage for this Sunday, “For he (God) created all things that they might exist…and made him in the image of his own eternity…” (1:14a, 23b).

Adam and Eve were created to be incorruptible and immortal, “in the image of his own eternity.” It is through the abuse of the gift of free will that suffering and death enter the picture, at the instigation, pride and envy of the fallen angel referred to as the devil or Satan. “Behind the disobedient choice of our first parents lurks a seductive voice, opposed to God, which makes them fall into death, out of envy” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 391).

However, God promised not to abandon humanity to the power of death. In Genesis 3:15, God speaks to Satan: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heal.” The final victory over Satan, sin, suffering and death will be wrought by the promised redeemer.

Jesus, the Redeemer

In Mark’s Gospel the promised redeemer, Jesus Christ, is at work conquering suffering and death. He desires to give us a glimpse of the restoration of humanity which he will accomplish through his death and resurrection, as well as through the resurrection of the dead at the end of time.

The woman suffering with hemorrhages for twelve years suffered more than physical pain. She also suffered exclusion from the communal life and worship of the people of God. She would have been considered ritually unclean for these twelve years.

She has such faith that she believed that, “If I touch even his garments, I shall be made well” (Mark 5:28). This verse could also be translated, “I shall be healed,” or “I shall be saved.”

Jesus’ response to her is full of meaning and beauty: “Daughter, your faith has made you well…” (Mark 5:34). This verse could also be translated, “your faith has healed you,” or “your faith has saved you.”

The Greek word “sozo” is used in Mark 5:23, 28 and 34. This word means both “save” and “heal.” As Mark Healy notes, “The woman’s faith has opened her to receive not only physical healing but also the ultimate salvation of body and soul that it prefigures” (ibid. p. 107).

Of course, this definitive healing and salvation from suffering and death will take place when “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more…” (Revelation 21:4).

The raising of Jairus’ daughter from the dead is but a foreshadowing of the ultimate authority Jesus will show over suffering and death in his glorious resurrection.

Jesus desires to work a miracle of healing in all of us. This may not always mean physical healing, but it always means that we can experience a spiritual resurrection from the death of sin. Like the Psalmist from this Sunday’s Responsorial Psalm, we can always pray, “O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol [Hades or the netherworld], restored me to life from among those gone down to the Pit” (30:2-3).

Office of Readings and Invitatory Psalm

Office of Readings

If this is the first Hour that you are reciting today, you should precede it with the Invitatory Psalm.

O God, come to my aid.

– O Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen. Alleluia.

A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.

Psalm 1
The two paths
The cross of the Lord is the tree of life for us.
Blessed the man who does not follow the counsels of the wicked, or stand in the paths that sinners use, or sit in the gatherings of those who mock: his delight is the law of the Lord, he ponders his law day and night. He is like a tree planted by flowing waters, that will give its fruit in due time, whose leaves will not fade. All that he does will prosper. Not thus are the wicked, not thus. They are like the dust blown by the wind. At the time of judgement the wicked will not stand, nor sinners in the council of the just. For the Lord knows the path of the just; but the way of the wicked leads to destruction. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
The cross of the Lord is the tree of life for us.

Psalm 2
The Messiah, king and victor
I have set up my king on Zion, my holy mountain.
Why are the nations in a ferment? Why do the people make their vain plans? The kings of the earth have risen up; the leaders have united against the Lord, against his anointed. “Let us break their chains, that bind us; let us throw off their yoke from our shoulders!” The Lord laughs at them, he who lives in the heavens derides them. Then he speaks to them in his anger; in his fury he throws them into confusion: “But I – I have set up my king on Zion, my holy mountain.” I will proclaim the Lord’s decrees. The Lord has said to me: “You are my son: today I have begotten you. Ask me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance, the ends of the earth for you to possess. You will rule them with a rod of iron, break them in pieces like an earthen pot.” So now, kings, listen: understand, you who rule the land. Serve the Lord in fear, tremble even as you praise him. Learn his teaching, lest he take anger, lest you perish when his anger bursts into flame. Blessed are all who put their trust in the Lord. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
I have set up my king on Zion, my holy mountain.

Psalm 3
The Lord is my protector
O my God, you have come to my help.
Lord, how many they are, my attackers! So many rise up against me, so many of them say: “He can hope for no help from the Lord.” But you, Lord, are my protector, my glory: you raise up my head. I called to the Lord, and from his holy mountain he heard my voice. I fell asleep, and slept; but I rose, for the Lord raised me up. I will not fear when the people surround me in their thousands. Rise up, O Lord; bring me to safety, my God. Those who attacked me – you struck them on the jaw, you shattered their teeth. Salvation comes from the Lord: Lord, your blessing is upon your people. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
O my God, you have come to my help.

May the word of the Lord find a true home in you.

– Teach and advise one another in all wisdom.

Reading	1 Samuel 28:3-25 ©
Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had mourned him and buried him at Ramah, his own town. Saul had expelled the necromancers and wizards from the country. Meanwhile the Philistines had mustered and pitched camp at Shunem. Saul mustered all Israel and they encamped at Gilboa. When Saul saw the Philistine camp he was afraid and there was a great trembling in his heart. Saul consulted the Lord, but the Lord gave him no answer, either by dream or oracle or prophet. ‘Then Saul said to his servants, ‘Find a woman who is a necromancer for me to go and consult her.’ His servants replied, There is a necromancer at En-dor.’ And so Saul, disguising himself and changing his clothes, set out accompanied by two men; their visit to the woman took place at night. ‘Disclose the future to me’ he said ‘by means of a ghost. Conjure up the one I shall name to you.’ The woman answered, ‘Look, you know what Saul has done, how he has swept the necromancers and wizards out of the country; why are you setting a trap for my life, then, to have me killed?’ But Saul swore to her by the Lord, ‘As the Lord lives,’ he said ‘no blame shall attach to you for this business.’ Then the woman asked, ‘Whom shall I conjure up for you?’ He replied, ‘Conjure up Samuel.’ Then the woman saw Samuel and, giving a great cry, she said to Saul, ‘Why have you deceived me? You are Saul.’ The king said, ‘Do not be afraid! What do you see?’ The woman answered Saul, ‘I see a ghost rising up from the earth.’ ‘What is he like?’ he asked. She answered, ‘It is an old man coming up; he is wrapped in a cloak.’ Then Saul knew it was Samuel and he bowed down his face to the ground and did homage. Then Samuel said to Saul, ‘Why have you disturbed my rest, conjuring me up?’ Saul replied, ‘I am in great distress; the Philistines are waging war against me, and God has abandoned me and no longer answers me either by prophet or dream; and so I have summoned you to tell me what I must do.’ Samuel said, ‘And why do you consult me, when the Lord has abandoned you and is with your neighbour?” the Lord has done to you as he foretold through me; he has snatched the sovereignty from your hand and given it to your neighbour, David, because you disobeyed the voice of the Lord and did not execute his fierce anger against Amalek. That is why the Lord treats you like this now. What is more, the Lord will deliver Israel and you, too, into the power of the Philistines. Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me; and Israel’s army, too, for the Lord will deliver it into the power of the Philistines.’ Saul was overcome and fell full-length on the ground. He was terrified by what Samuel had said and, besides this, he was weakened by having eaten nothing at all that day and all that night. The woman then came to Saul, and seeing his terror said, ‘Look, your servant has obeyed your voice; I have taken my life in my hands, and have obeyed the command you gave me. So now you in your turn listen to what your servant says. Let me set a little food before you for you to eat and get some strength for your journey.’ But he refused. ‘I will not eat’ he said. His servants however pressed him, and so did the woman. Allowing himself to be persuaded by them, he rose from the ground and sat on the divan. The woman owned a fattened calf which she quickly slaughtered, and she took some flour and kneaded it and with it baked cakes of unleavened bread; she put these before Saul and his servants; and after they had eaten they set off and left the same night.

Reading

Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had mourned him and buried him at Ramah, his own town. Saul had expelled the necromancers and wizards from the country.

Meanwhile the Philistines had mustered and pitched camp at Shunem. Saul mustered all Israel and they encamped at Gilboa. When Saul saw the Philistine camp he was afraid and there was a great trembling in his heart. Saul consulted the Lord, but the Lord gave him no answer, either by dream or oracle or prophet. ‘Then Saul said to his servants, ‘Find a woman who is a necromancer for me to go and consult her.’ His servants replied, There is a necromancer at En-dor.’

And so Saul, disguising himself and changing his clothes, set out accompanied by two men; their visit to the woman took place at night. ‘Disclose the future to me’ he said ‘by means of a ghost. Conjure up the one I shall name to you.’ The woman answered, ‘Look, you know what Saul has done, how he has swept the necromancers and wizards out of the country; why are you setting a trap for my life, then, to have me killed?’ But Saul swore to her by the Lord, ‘As the Lord lives,’ he said ‘no blame shall attach to you for this business.’ Then the woman asked, ‘Whom shall I conjure up for you?’ He replied, ‘Conjure up Samuel.’

Then the woman saw Samuel and, giving a great cry, she said to Saul, ‘Why have you deceived me? You are Saul.’ The king said, ‘Do not be afraid! What do you see?’ The woman answered Saul, ‘I see a ghost rising up from the earth.’ ‘What is he like?’ he asked. She answered, ‘It is an old man coming up; he is wrapped in a cloak.’ Then Saul knew it was Samuel and he bowed down his face to the ground and did homage.

Then Samuel said to Saul, ‘Why have you disturbed my rest, conjuring me up?’ Saul replied, ‘I am in great distress; the Philistines are waging war against me, and God has abandoned me and no longer answers me either by prophet or dream; and so I have summoned you to tell me what I must do.’ Samuel said, ‘And why do you consult me, when the Lord has abandoned you and is with your neighbour?” the Lord has done to you as he foretold through me; he has snatched the sovereignty from your hand and given it to your neighbour, David, because you disobeyed the voice of the Lord and did not execute his fierce anger against Amalek. That is why the Lord treats you like this now. What is more, the Lord will deliver Israel and you, too, into the power of the Philistines. Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me; and Israel’s army, too, for the Lord will deliver it into the power of the Philistines.’

Saul was overcome and fell full-length on the ground. He was terrified by what Samuel had said and, besides this, he was weakened by having eaten nothing at all that day and all that night. The woman then came to Saul, and seeing his terror said, ‘Look, your servant has obeyed your voice; I have taken my life in my hands, and have obeyed the command you gave me. So now you in your turn listen to what your servant says. Let me set a little food before you for you to eat and get some strength for your journey.’ But he refused. ‘I will not eat’ he said. His servants however pressed him, and so did the woman. Allowing himself to be persuaded by them, he rose from the ground and sat on the divan. The woman owned a fattened calf which she quickly slaughtered, and she took some flour and kneaded it and with it baked cakes of unleavened bread; she put these before Saul and his servants; and after they had eaten they set off and left the same night.

Reading	From a homily by Pope Paul VI
We proclaim Christ to the whole world
Not to preach the Gospel would be my undoing, for Christ himself sent me as his apostle and witness. The more remote, the more difficult the assignment, the more my love of God spurs me on. I am bound to proclaim that Jesus is Christ, the Son of the living God. Because of him we come to know the God we cannot see. He is the firstborn of all creation; in him all things find their being. Man’s teacher and redeemer, he was born for us, died for us, and for us he rose from the dead. All things, all history converges in Christ. A man of sorrow and hope, he knows us and loves us. As our friend he stays by us throughout our lives; at the end of time he will come to be our judge; but we also know that he will be the complete fulfilment of our lives and our great happiness for all eternity. I can never cease to speak of Christ for he is our truth and our light; he is the way, the truth and the life. He is our bread, our source of living water who allays our hunger and satisfies our thirst. He is our shepherd, our leader, our ideal, our comforter and our brother. He is like us but more perfectly human, simple, poor, humble, and yet, while burdened with work, he is more patient. He spoke on our behalf; he worked miracles; and he founded a new kingdom: in it the poor are happy; peace is the foundation of a life in common; where the pure of heart and those who mourn are uplifted and comforted; the hungry find justice; sinners are forgiven; and all discover that they are brothers. The image I present to you is the image of Jesus Christ. As Christians you share his name; he has already made most of you his own. So once again I repeat his name to you Christians and I proclaim to all men: Jesus Christ is the beginning and the end, the alpha and the omega, Lord of the new universe, the great hidden key to human history and the part we play in it. He is the mediator – the bridge, if you will – between heaven and earth. Above all he is the Son of man, more perfect than any man, being also the Son of God, eternal and infinite. He is the son of Mary his mother on earth, more blessed than any woman. She is also our mother in the spiritual communion of the mystical body. Remember: [it] is Jesus Christ I preach day in and day out. His name I would see echo and re-echo for all time even to the ends of the earth.

Reading

From a homily by Pope Paul VI

We proclaim Christ to the whole world

Not to preach the Gospel would be my undoing, for Christ himself sent me as his apostle and witness. The more remote, the more difficult the assignment, the more my love of God spurs me on. I am bound to proclaim that Jesus is Christ, the Son of the living God. Because of him we come to know the God we cannot see. He is the firstborn of all creation; in him all things find their being. Man’s teacher and redeemer, he was born for us, died for us, and for us he rose from the dead.

All things, all history converges in Christ. A man of sorrow and hope, he knows us and loves us. As our friend he stays by us throughout our lives; at the end of time he will come to be our judge; but we also know that he will be the complete fulfilment of our lives and our great happiness for all eternity.

I can never cease to speak of Christ for he is our truth and our light; he is the way, the truth and the life. He is our bread, our source of living water who allays our hunger and satisfies our thirst. He is our shepherd, our leader, our ideal, our comforter and our brother.

He is like us but more perfectly human, simple, poor, humble, and yet, while burdened with work, he is more patient. He spoke on our behalf; he worked miracles; and he founded a new kingdom: in it the poor are happy; peace is the foundation of a life in common; where the pure of heart and those who mourn are uplifted and comforted; the hungry find justice; sinners are forgiven; and all discover that they are brothers.

The image I present to you is the image of Jesus Christ. As Christians you share his name; he has already made most of you his own. So once again I repeat his name to you Christians and I proclaim to all men: Jesus Christ is the beginning and the end, the alpha and the omega, Lord of the new universe, the great hidden key to human history and the part we play in it. He is the mediator – the bridge, if you will – between heaven and earth. Above all he is the Son of man, more perfect than any man, being also the Son of God, eternal and infinite. He is the son of Mary his mother on earth, more blessed than any woman. She is also our mother in the spiritual communion of the mystical body.

Remember: [it] is Jesus Christ I preach day in and day out. His name I would see echo and re-echo for all time even to the ends of the earth.

Hymn	Te Deum
God, we praise you; Lord, we proclaim you! You, the Father, the eternal – all the earth venerates you. All the angels, all the heavens, every power – The cherubim, the seraphim – unceasingly, they cry: “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts: heaven and earth are full of the majesty of your glory!” The glorious choir of Apostles – The noble ranks of prophets – The shining army of martyrs – all praise you. Throughout the world your holy Church proclaims you. – Father of immeasurable majesty, – True Son, only-begotten, worthy of worship, – Holy Spirit, our Advocate. You, Christ: – You are the king of glory. – You are the Father’s eternal Son. – You, to free mankind, did not disdain a Virgin’s womb. – You defeated the sharp spear of Death, and opened the kingdom of heaven to those who believe in you. – You sit at God’s right hand, in the glory of the Father. – You will come, so we believe, as our Judge. And so we ask of you: give help to your servants, whom you set free at the price of your precious blood. Number them among your chosen ones in eternal glory. Bring your people to safety, Lord, and bless those who are your inheritance. Rule them and lift them high for ever. Day by day we bless you, Lord: we praise you for ever and for ever. Of your goodness, Lord, keep us without sin for today. Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us. Let your pity, Lord, be upon us, as much as we trust in you. In you, Lord, I trust: let me never be put to shame.

Hymn

Te Deum

God, we praise you; Lord, we proclaim you!

You, the Father, the eternal –

all the earth venerates you.

All the angels, all the heavens, every power –

The cherubim, the seraphim –

unceasingly, they cry:

“Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts:

heaven and earth are full of the majesty of your glory!”

The glorious choir of Apostles –

The noble ranks of prophets –

The shining army of martyrs –

all praise you.

Throughout the world your holy Church proclaims you.

– Father of immeasurable majesty,

– True Son, only-begotten, worthy of worship,

– Holy Spirit, our Advocate.

You, Christ:

– You are the king of glory.

– You are the Father’s eternal Son.

– You, to free mankind, did not disdain a Virgin’s womb.

– You defeated the sharp spear of Death, and opened the kingdom of heaven to those who believe in you.

– You sit at God’s right hand, in the glory of the Father.

– You will come, so we believe, as our Judge.

And so we ask of you: give help to your servants, whom you set free at the price of your precious blood.

Number them among your chosen ones in eternal glory.

Bring your people to safety, Lord, and bless those who are your inheritance.

Rule them and lift them high for ever.

Day by day we bless you, Lord: we praise you for ever and for ever.

Of your goodness, Lord, keep us without sin for today.

Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us.

Let your pity, Lord, be upon us, as much as we trust in you.

In you, Lord, I trust: let me never be put to shame.

Concluding Prayer
O God, by your grace you adopted us and chose us to be children of light. Grant that we may not become entangled in error and shadow but always shine with the glory of truth. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.

Catholic Culture

Daily Readings (on USCCB site):
» June 28, 2009
(will open a new window)

Collect: Father, you call your children to walk in the light of Christ. Free us from darkness and keep us in the radiance of your truth. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

« June 28, 2009 »

Thirteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
Old Calendar: Fourth Sunday after Pentecost #cal_links li { padding: 0px; }

RECIPES
- » Beef with Peppers
ACTIVITIES
- » Why Celebrate the Liturgical Year?
PRAYERS
- » Blessing of Travelers

Taking her by the hand he said to her, "Tal'itha cu'mi"; which means, "Little girl, I say to you, arise." And immediately the girl got up and walked (she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat (Mk 5:41-42).

Sunday Readings
The first reading is taken from the Book of Wisdom 1:13-15; 2:23-24 and references a truth which is clearly stated for the first time in the whole Old Testament — man's real destiny is an unending life with God.

The second reading is from the Second Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians 8:7, 9, 13-15. St. Paul urges the Corinthians to give generously toward the collection he is organizing for the poor Jewish converts in Palestine.

The Gospel is from St. Mark 5:21-43 or 5:21-24, 35-43. Today's gospel gives us two further proofs of the divine power and the infinite mercy of our Savior. Apart from the primary purpose of proving his claim to be the promised Messiah, all his miracles had as their aim and end — the benefit of suffering human beings. He worked no miracle for the sake of astonishing people or to satisfy idle gossip. Each one was performed in order to help someone in distress. All who were helped by his miracles of mercy had one thing in common — they were motivated by trust in his mercy and power. The leper in Matthew (8:2) expressed the sentiments of them all: "Lord, if only you will you can cleanse me (of my leprosy)." In many cases, as for instance that of Jarius above, it was a relative or friends who showed this faith and confidence. It was always present either in the fortunate person or in the relative or friend who asked for the miracle.

The Gospels give us only some of the many miracles our Lord worked. They give them to prove that he was what he claimed to be — the Son of God and the long-expected Savior; and also to prove his compassionate understanding and sympathy for suffering humanity.

We must not forget, however, that the meaning of his miracles and his mission was lost on thousands of his contemporaries in Palestine, small though the country was. While great throngs followed our Lord and listened to his message and were interested in his mission, still great throngs remained at home, stolidly immersed in their worldly tasks and thoughts. They heard rumors about the man from Nazareth who was said to be the Messiah, and was supposed to be able to work miracles, but they were too practical, too sensible to listen to such rumors. Anyway they had no interest in the Messiah, or in silly spiritual things, they were fully occupied with their financial and worldly interests.

Has the world changed much in nineteen centuries? How many millions of nominal Christians ignore Christ and his Gospel today, millions who are too practical, too down-to-earth to waste time on such a silly thing as their eternal salvation! How many millions are spiritually sick and dying but who have not the faith, humility and confidence of Jairus, to cast themselves at the feet of Jesus and ask him to cure them? How fortunate would not people be if they would repeat the leper's prayer: "Lord, if only you will you can make me clean"; if they could, like the suffering woman in today's Gospel, break through the throng of worldly pride, worldly interests and worldly associates and touch the hem of his garment; if they had the faith of Jairus; if only they could say to our Lord "come and lay your hands upon me so that I may be made well and live."?

Today, let us say a fervent prayer of thanksgiving to God for the gift of active faith which he has given us and beg of him to keep that faith ever alive in our breasts. Let us think, too, of our fellowmen, our brothers in Christ, who are so busy with their worldly occupations and pleasures that they cannot find time to listen to his message. They are spiritually anemic and almost spiritually dead, but cannot push their way toward Christ through the throngs of earthly, worldly barricades which they have built about themselves. Our sincere prayers can help them to overcome these obstacles; frequently and fervently let us ask God to send them his efficacious grace so that these brothers in Christ will also be with him in heaven.

Excerpted from The Sunday Readings by Fr. Kevin O'Sullivan, O.F.M.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Mass Readings

Little Girl, Arise!

Year B

Little girl, I tell you: get up.

Inspiration of the Holy Spirit - From the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Prayer to End Abortion

Office of Readings