Daily Readings - Sun Jul 01 2018

¹³because God did not make death, nor does he rejoice in the loss of the living¹⁴For he created all things that they might exist, and he made the nations of the world curable, and there is no medicine of extermination in them, nor a kingdom of hell upon the earth¹⁵For justice is perpetual and immortal

Chapter 2

²³For God created man to be immortal, and he made him in the image of his own likeness²⁴But by the envy of the devil, death entered the world

2 Corinthians

Chapter 8

⁷But, just as in all things you abound in faith and in word and in knowledge and in all solicitude, and even more so in your charity toward us, so also may you abound in this grace⁹For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, he became poor for your sakes, so that through his poverty, you might become rich¹³And it is not that others should be relieved, while you are troubled, but that there should be an equality¹⁴In this present time, let your abundance supply their need, so that their abundance may also supply your need, in order that there may be an equality, just as it was written¹⁵"He with more did not have too much; and he with less did not have too little.

Mark

Chapter 5

²¹And when Jesus had crossed in the boat, over the strait again, a great crowd came together before him. And he was near the sea²²And one of the rulers of the synagogue, named Jairus, approached. And seeing him, he fell prostrate at his feet²³And he beseeched him greatly, saying: "For my daughter is near the end. Come and lay your hand on her, so that she may be healthy and may live.²⁴And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him, and they pressed upon him²⁵And there was a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years²⁶And she had endured much from several physicians, and she had spent everything she owned with no benefit at all, but instead she became worse²⁷Then, when she had heard of Jesus, she approached through the crowd behind him, and she touched his garment²⁸For she said: "Because if I touch even his garment, I will be saved.²⁹And immediately, the source of her bleeding was dried up, and she sensed in her body that she had been healed from the wound³⁰And immediately Jesus, realizing within himself that power that had gone out from him, turning to the crowd, said, "Who touched my garments?³¹And his disciples said to him, "You see that the crowd presses around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ³²And he looked around to see the woman who had done this³³Yet truly, the woman, in fear and trembling, knowing what had happened within her, went and fell prostrate before him, and she told him the whole truth³⁴And he said to her: "Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace, and be healed from your wound.³⁵While he was still speaking, they arrived from the ruler of the synagogue, saying: "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?³⁶But Jesus, having heard the word that was spoken, said to the ruler of the synagogue: "Do not be afraid. You need only believe.³⁷And he would not permit anyone to follow him, except Peter, and James, and John the brother of James³⁸And they went to the house of the ruler of the synagogue. And he saw a tumult, and weeping, and much wailing³⁹And entering, he said to them: "Why are you disturbed and weeping? The girl is not dead, but is asleep.⁴⁰And they derided him. Yet truly, having put them all out, he took the father and mother of the girl, and those who were with him, and he entered to where the girl was lying⁴¹And taking the girl by the hand, he said to her, "Talitha koumi," which means, "Little girl, (I say to you) arise⁴²And immediately the young girl rose up and walked. Now she was twelve years old. And they were suddenly struck with a great astonishment⁴³And he instructed them sternly, so that no one would know about it. And he told them to give her something to eat

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter profound reflections on life, faith, and generosity. The first reading from Wisdom reminds us that God did not create death, but it entered the world through sin. This emphasizes God’s desire for immortal life, reflecting His image in us. The second reading from Corinthians highlights the importance of equality and generosity, inspired by Jesus’s sacrifice. The Gospel from Mark illustrates Jesus’s miracles: healing a woman with faith and raising a girl from the dead, showcasing His power and compassion. These readings connect by illustrating God’s plan for life and the role of faith and community. Wisdom sets the stage by rejecting death as part of God’s plan, while Corinthians calls us to support each other, mirroring the community’s presence in Mark. Jesus’s miracles in Mark demonstrate trust in God’s power, even in death, aligning with Wisdom’s message of immortal life and Corinthians’ call to generosity. Applying these teachings to our lives, we are reminded to trust God amidst hardships and embrace generosity. Like the woman and Jairus, our faith can lead to healing and renewal. Let us live with compassion, supporting one another, and trust in God’s plan, even when faced with death. The moral lesson is clear: faith and trust in God, coupled with generous hearts, guide us to live as He intended—embracing life and compassion.