[Salvation]

Catholic Culture

Daily Readings for: July 01, 2012
(Readings on USCCB website)

Collect: O God, who through the grace of adoption chose us to be children of light, grant, we pray, that we may not be wrapped in the darkness of error but always be seen to stand in the bright light of truth. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

RECIPES

• Beef with Peppers

ACTIVITIES

• Why Celebrate the Liturgical Year?

PRAYERS

• Blessing of Travelers

Ordinary Time: July 1st

Thirteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Old Calendar: Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

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).

Click here for commentary on the readings in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite.

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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.

[Salvation]

The Word Among Us

Meditation: Mark 5:21-43

“He looked around to see who had done it.” (Mark 5:32)

Sometimes our prayer life can feel a little like a gumball dispenser. We put a quarter in the slot, turn the handle, and expect a gumball to drop out. If we say our prayers, attend church, or do good works, we may think we automatically receive God’s grace. We put in the time, and God dispenses his grace.

But God wants so much more for us! He wants prayer to be a time when we have a personal encounter with him. Look at today’s story of the hemorrhaging woman. It wasn’t enough that she pushed through the crowds and touched Jesus. He want­ed to touch her! He wanted to look into her eyes, listen to her story, and assure her personally that it really was her faith and trust in him that saved her.

In a sense, Jesus was just as per­sistent as this woman was. It didn’t matter that he was on his way to heal someone’s daughter. He still took the time to reach out to this lonely, des­perate woman because she mattered to him just as much as the impor­tant, influential Jairus did.

God wants personal contact with us. It’s not enough for him to dis­pense healing and grace mechani­cally, as if from afar. He wants to see us, to touch us, and to assure us of his love. We don’t have to lower our expectations or reduce the Christian life to a matter of formulas and con­tracts. We were made for commu­nion with God—and Jesus longs for communion with us!

So when you pray today, put aside your to-do list and reach out for Jesus. Push through whatever objec­tions may rise up, and grab hold of his robe. Then don’t be surprised to find Jesus turning and looking at you with love. Don’t be surprised when he speaks words of healing, encour­agement, and direction. He loves spending time with you!

“Jesus, I believe that even now, you are looking for me, waiting for the opportunity to speak to me and touch my heart. Here I am, Lord!”

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Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion

(Wisdom 1:13-15; 2:23-24; Psalm 30:2,4-6,11-13; 2 Corinthians 8:7,9,13-15; Mark 5:21-43)

1. What is your understanding of these words from the first reading? “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.”

2. The Responsorial Psalm speaks of the goodness and faithfulness of the Lord. In what way does the psalm show how God has responded to the words above from the first reading? Share some examples from your own life of how the Lord, “did not let my enemies rejoice over me,” “preserved me,” had “pity on me,” and showed me his “good will.”

3. The second reading speaks of sharing our “abundance” from the Lord with others. What part does the “social justice” teachings of the church play in you life, especially those on caring for the poor and needy? What more could you do to make them a greater reality in your life?

4. In the Gospel, the synagogue leader, Jairus, and the women afflicted with hemorrhages approach Jesus with great faith. What role do you think their expectant faith played in the healings that occurred?

5. In his book, “The Practice of Healing Prayer,” Francis MacNutt says that praying with expectant faith means trusting in God’s love, goodness and mercy when we pray. What are the situations in your life that sometimes make it difficult to pray to Jesus with expectant faith? Share any fruits of prayers prayed with expectant faith.

6. In the meditation, we hear these astounding words: “God wants so much more for us. He wants prayer to be a time of personal encounter with him… . We were made for communion with God.” The meditation then ends with these words about our Lord: “He loves spending time with you.” In light of these words, what steps can you take to make this a greater reality in your own times of prayer?

7. Take some time now to pray for the grace to know and experience the Lord’s presence more deeply when you pray. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as the starting point..