Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
† Sunday 2nd July 2000
Theme: Restored in faith and health

A reading from the Book of Wisdom 1: 13 - 15; 2: 23 - 24
The reader might be puzzled at first by the content of this passage. The notion that “Death was not God’s doing,” may come as a surprise! It is likely that the author is speaking of spiritual death, for “God did make us imperishable...in the image of God’s own nature.” Death, and the loss that comes with it, is the product of our wilful and evil ways. Where there is sin, there is death, and it is this death that works contrary to the God given life that we otherwise share. This reading gives warning to those who live in partnership with evil, that they should beware of the consequences.At the same time it affirms the opportunity and the wonder,of the life given us by God.

A reading from the Second Letter of Paul to the Corinthians 8: 7. 9. 13 - 15
In writing to the Christians of Corinth, Paul will have been aware of the wealth of this great trading city. Paul also praises them for the wealth of the spirituality and faith, and expects that they will be equally generous in mercy, when making the collection for the poor of the church in Jerusalem. Paul does not expect the Corinthians to beggar themselves, but from their surplus to help their poorer brethren, who may one day in their turn help from their richness. Maybe, today, wealthy Christian communities and individuals are to be challenged to be merciful and generous to the poorer in our world family, so that none should go short.

Gospel according to Mark 5: 21 - 43
In this account, the faith of two people, is set out by Mark for our example. Jairus , most likely to have been a prominent member of the local Jewish community, pleads with Jesus, for his sick daughter.Because of his faith he will see his little daughter well again. The woman, on the other hand, was probably ‘ritually unclean’ because of her condition.which she had suffered for years at the hands of the doctors trying to heal her bleeding. Hence her approach to Jesus under cover of the crowd. These two, both encounter Jesus in faith, and experience liberation. The words of Jesus: “Talitha koum!” hold certain echoes of the words used to describe Jesus’ resurrection, and suggests that these accounts have more than a symbolic significance.
© Peter Harrison 2000