＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊ 

Wisdom 1:13—15; 2:23-24

God did not make death,

Nor does he rejoice in the destruction of the living.   Since he has created everything, all creatures of the universe are for our good; there is no deadly poison in them and the netherworld has no dominion over the earth,   because immortal is not submitted to death.

 Indeed God created man to be im­mortal in the likeness of his own nature, but the envy of the devil brought death to the world, and those who take his side shall experience death.

 

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

I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.

 

    ＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

2 Corinthians 8:7, 9, 13-15

 You excel in everything: in the gifts of faith, speech and knowledge; you feel concern for every cause and, besides, you are first in my heart. Excel also in this generous service. You know well the generosity of Christ Jesus, our Lord. Although he was rich, he made himself poor to make you rich through his poverty.

 I do not mean that others should be at ease and you burdened. Strive for equality;   at present give from your abundance what they are short of, and in some way they also will give from their abundance what you lack. Then you will be equal and what Scripture says shall come true: To the one who had much, nothing was in excess; to the one who had little, nothing was lacking.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊      

Mark 5:21-43

 Jesus then crossed to the other side of the lake and while he was still on the shore, a large crowd gathered around him.   Jairus, an official of the synagogue, came up and seeing Je­sus, threw himself at his feet   and asked him earnestly, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her so that she may get well and live.”

Jesus went with him and many peo­ple followed, pressing from every side.  Among the crowd was a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years.  She had suffered a lot at the hands of many doctors and had spent everything she had, but instead of getting better, she was worse.   Since she had heard about Jesus, this woman came up behind him and touched his cloak  think­ing, “If I just touch his clothing, I shall get well.”  Her flow of blood dried up at once, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her complaint.

 But Jesus was conscious that heal­ing power had gone out from him, so he turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”   His disciples answered, “You see how the peo­ple are crowding around you. Why do you ask who touched you?”   But he kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the wo­man, aware of what had happened, came forward trembling and afraid. She knelt before him and told him the whole truth.

Then Jesus said to her, “Daugh­­ter, your faith has saved you; go in peace and be free of this illness.”  While Jesus was still speaking, some people arrived from the official’s house to inform him, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Mas­ter any further?”  But Jesus ignored what they said and told the official, “Do not fear, just believe.”  And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James and John, the brother of James.

 When they arrived at the house, Jesus saw a great commotion with people weep­­­ing and wailing loudly. ­  Jesus entered and said to them, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.”  They laughed at him. But Jesus sent them outside and went with the child’s father and mother and his companions into the room where the child lay.   Taking her by the hand, he said to her, “Talitha kumi!” which means: “Little girl, get up!”

 The girl got up at once and began to walk around. (She was twelve years old.) The parents were astonished, greatly astonished.   Jesus strictly ordered them not to let anyone know about it, and told them to give her something to eat.

 

Gospel Reflection：

Read:

Jesus is requested by Jairus, a temple official to heal his daughter who fell ill. Going with Jairus, Jesus unknowingly healed a woman suffering from bleeding for twelve years. She touches the hem of His cloak and by faith she was healed. Meanwhile, people from the home of Jairus informed him that his daughter already died and there is no point in troubling Jesus further. But Jesus persisted and healed the little girl to the great joy of her parents.

Reflect:

Two persons are in need of healing in today’s gospel. One is a little girl and the other is a woman. The little girl naturally has her father to find ways and means for her cure. That is why he, although a dignitary of the synagogue humbled himself and begged Jesus to heal his daughter. Meantime, the mature woman has no one but herself.

Both takes action, the father for his daughter and the woman for herself. And the woman displayed extraordinary persistence. she knows that her position to ask Jesus for healing weak. She is a woman and has bleeding problems. Both are red flags for religious personalities.

She will not be entertained. And so, in desperation she touched the hem of Jesus’cloak believes that in doing so she will be healed. She is not disappointed. It is her faith rather than a personal intervention on the part of Jesus that cured her. Unlike the little girl where Jesus has to come personally and minister to her.

The woman has mature faith. The little girl has to depend on her father’s faith. Both are images of how God intervenes in our lives according to our level of faith.

Respond:

The sick needs our help. Perhaps today is a good day to pray for them and those who take care of them. This is spiritual support. We can also extend words of encouragement to them. This is moral support. And if we know somebody close to us that is sick, perhaps we can lend a bit of our time and treasure to let them know that we care.