Daily Readings - Sun Jun 27 2021

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 him³⁵While 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, death, and the transformative power of faith and generosity. The first reading from the Book of Wisdom reminds us that death was not part of God’s original creation but entered the world through sin. It reassures us that God’s plan is for life, and His justice is eternal. The second reading from 2 Corinthians invites us to embrace generosity and equality, inspired by Christ’s self-emptying love. Finally, the Gospel from Mark presents a dramatic miracle: Jairus’s daughter raised from the dead, a testament to Jesus’ power over death and His call to unwavering faith. These readings are deeply interconnected. The Book of Wisdom sets the stage by highlighting the tragedy of death and the hope of eternal life. The 2 Corinthians passage bridges this hope with the call to live generously, mirroring Christ’s sacrifice. The Gospel then illustrates this hope and generosity in action through Jesus’ miracle, showing that faith can overcome even death. Together, they remind us that our ultimate hope is in God’s promise of eternal life, and we are called to live this hope by trusting in God and sharing His gifts with others. In our daily lives, these readings challenge us to face challenges with faith, trusting that God is always at work. When we encounter suffering or loss, we are invited to turn to God, just as Jairus did, believing in His power to bring life out of death. Similarly, we are called to live with generosity, recognizing that all we have is a gift from God. Let us embrace these lessons, living with faith, hope, and generosity, knowing that God’s plan for us is life—abundant and eternal.