June 30, 2024 - Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
May you continue to experience the fullness of life which Jesus offers you so that you may be enriched by GOD’s blessings now and forever. Would we be as willing to say “yes” when asked with a gun in our face, “Are you a Christian?” Do we want our life to enrich others and praise GOD, even if it means the end to our existence here and now?
Sometimes, life seems meaningless. A few years ago, my family went to see a friend in the play, The Columbine Project. In the three hour production, we received an apparently very authentic and accurate view of what led to, and followed from, the killing of twelve students, one teacher, and eventually the two teen gunmen who attacked the Columbine High School on April 20, 1999. Our friend played the role of Rachel Scott, a young Christian, who reportedly was asked if she still believed in GOD, while a gun was pointed at her head. She boldly professed and replied, “You know I do,” knowing that this was a sure death sentence. She was willing to give up her earthly life for a fuller life in the hereafter. She had written in her journal just a few days before her death that she wanted GOD to let her serve others in some way and make her life a sign to others of GOD’s love.
GOD desires that we live. Death has never been GOD’s primary plan for humans. GOD wants us to experience life. True life can be experienced only by those who put their faith and trust in GOD. In the First Reading, the Wisdom writer reminds us that death comes not from GOD but from evil (both human evil and the Evil One). The Responsorial proclaims GOD’s work of rescuing mortals from the enemy who desires to destroy life. In the Second Reading, St. Paul writes to the people of Corinth informing them that GOD’s plan, in and through Jesus, is that we all share in the richness of divine life and also share what earthly wealth we have, particularly with those who have less, thus, we will all experience the richness of GOD. In the Gospel today, Jesus gives new life to two females: first to the woman suffering from hemorrhages, and secondly, to the sick daughter of a synagogue official.
Readings can be obtained from: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/063024.cfm
First Martyrs of the Church of Rome:
https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/first-martyrs-of-the-church-of-rome
Readings:Wisdom 1: 13-15; 2: 23-24; Psalm 30: 2, 4, 5-6, 11, 12, 13;
2 Corinthians 8: 7, 9, 13-15; Mark 5: 21-43
The Book of Wisdom proclaims that it is GOD’s will that we live forever. That is the way GOD planned it from the very beginning. Yet, because of the influence of evil (the devil), sin entered the world, and with sin, death. It is true that all of us now are destined to go through the process of dying, but for those who seek GOD, death becomes the door to the richness of everlasting life that GOD intends for us.
The psalmist has experienced the attacks from those who work against GOD’s plan. Yet, more importantly, the writer of this psalm has also experienced being rescued by the LORD GOD, Who
desires fullness of life for those who put their trust in GOD. The fitting response of those who have experienced rescue (being saved by GOD) is the giving of praise, thanks, and glory to GOD.
In our Second Reading, Paul wants the people of Corinth to continue to experience the graciousness of GOD as manifested in the fullness of life which they receive in and through the ministry of Jesus. They have truly been blessed with the richness of divine life. GOD, through Jesus, has allowed them to receive the greatest gifts of GOD, not because they deserve it, but because GOD is richly gracious. The response to the wealth of graces they have received from GOD, through the acts of Jesus, is that they must share not only their spiritual richness but even their physical wealth, particularly with those who do have as much.
The Gospel presents Jesus reaching out to two of the daughters of GOD. The story of the healing of the bleeding woman is sandwiched between the beginning and the ending of the story of the raising of the daughter of the synagogue official. Both stories declare the desire of Jesus and His Abba-Father to bring new experience of life to those who seem to be at death’s doors. Both stories show the power of GOD’s love and need for faith and trust in GOD.
GOD desires that we share in the richness and fullness of life. This is, and always has been, GOD’s plan for us. Yet, because of sin and evil, we experience the pains and sorrows of not having the fullness of life. It is because of the negative forces, that work against the gracious life
that GOD intends, that GOD has allowed the Son to enter into our life and enrich our lives once again. Although Jesus came as a poor individual in earthly terms, He brought a richness that no worldly wealth could buy – fullness of life forever. Jesus has come to lift all who accept Him up to the highest status of being children of the King of Life and the Lord of all GOoDness, and no longer being slaves of the master of deceit and evil. Jesus’ own death and resurrection have destroyed the finality of death and given new life to those who were under the ultimate sentence of death.
We are truly given a treasure beyond our worth. It is ours only if we continue to turn to GOD and acknowledge what Jesus has done for us by our living lives that are trusting and faith filled. We must proclaim the way GOD has rescued us and lifted us up from the depths into which we had sunk.
St. Paul reminds us of what should be our response to this new life and wealth we have been given. We are to share the wealth, both spiritual and physical, that we have been given. Just as we have gone from poverty and low life to the rich life of being the King’s kids because of the overly gracious gifts of GOD as manifested in Jesus, so we must empower others to experience the richness of GOD through our actions of graciousness towards them. We give GOD the glory and praise GOD deserves by our sharing what the Lord Jesus has given to us. Let us join the psalmist today and proclaim: “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.”
- The personal question/action for today: How have I experienced the richness of GOD lifting me from the poverty of my previous state of being? What does it mean to me that GOD wants me to have the fullness of life? How can I enrich others with the graciousness of GOD that I have experienced and received?
Blessed are You, LORD, GOD of all richness and life. Through Your GOoDness, You desire that we share in the fullness of all Your gifts. Yet, because of our allowing evil to enter our lives and our own sinning, we have sunk into the depths of human life. Your desire for us to live as Your beloved creatures has led You to allow Your Son to put aside His place of richness and eternal life and enter our world as a poor, mortal individual. He shared the limitations of human existence with us in order to raise us up to share in Your divine and eternal life and love. He reached out His healing hands to give a sense of the fullness of life to those who were struggling the most under the burdens of this poor life on earth. He destroyed death by His own death and restored life by rising to new life. He has opened the door for us to travel beyond death to the riches of Your eternal reign. We give You thanks not only in our words, but by sharing the wealth of all the gifts You have given us. We make this prayer in the name of Jesus, Your Son and our Brother, Who is living and reigning with You and the Holy Spirit, our one and only GOD, for ever and ever. Amen.
Song of the Day: Lifesong by Casting Crowns: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gnf1xczuOrA
I Asked You For Life by Kim Walker: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQGnleZWZ88
Life by Beckah Shae: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8EpFKN1q6Q
Life Light Up by Christy Nockels: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ODnrM6Lv6A
Video of the Day: Jesus is Dyn-O-mite: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ck8RT6X4od4
The First Holy Martyrs of the Roman Church:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyXr3UySmPA
© rjk, 01-03-23
