“I HAVE COME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE, LIFE IN ALL IS FULNESS” (John10:10)

⏰THIRTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR B)

📕Wis 1:13-15, 2:23-24; Ps 30:2 and 4, 5-6, 11-12a and 13b (R.v.2a); 2 Cor 8:7, 9, 13-15; Mark 5:21-43

The Liturgy of today continues to reveal the power of Jesus over all things, an indication of his divine power. Both the healing of the woman with a haemorrhage and that of the raising of the daughter of Jairus from death defied earthly powers, and the Gospel writer acknowledged this (cf. Marks26, 29:35, 42).

While the supremacy of Jesus over all power is the most essential thing that the Liturgy points to, the themes of life and faith featured prominently in all the readings. The message is that the Lord is the giver of life and He gives it to anyone who is willing. That willingness is where the faith comes in.

The opening setting of the Gospel, which is around the Sea of Galilee, already predisposes the mind for that life-giving theme. Water is a source of life, and beyond that, the sea was the major source of livelihood at the time of Jesus – fishing and trading.

From the physical setting, the Gospel moves on to the spiritual setting which is predisposed by faith. The leader of the synagogue swallowed the pride that was evident among the Jewish leaders of Jesus time and their hatred for Jesus and approached him in humility and faith (Mark 5:22-23). Even when his faith was threatened, Jesus encouraged Him, Do not fear, only believe (Mark 5:36 ).

The woman with a haemorrhage also manifested a great faith. According to the Law of Moses, she should be isolated from the people (cf. Lev 15:19). She neglected the disgrace, which she might earn by coming out, and approached Jesus. Jesus assured her, Your faith has made you well (Mark 5:34).

Jesus always says that whoever believes has eternal life (cf. Mark 16:16; John 3:15, 36; 5:24; 6:47). This eternal life is the point of connection between the Gospel and the First Reading. The life that the Wisdom writer refers to is not just ordinary life but a spiritual one. The Second Reading encourages us to share that life with others once we acquire it so that all can share from the abundance.

We cannot overlook the sacramental significance of the action of the woman with a haemorrhage. The healing did not just come through a direct action of Jesus. It was through his cloak that she touched (Mark 5:27-28). She had faith that Jesus cloak can be a channel for her healing. In the same way, we value sacramentals like the crucifix, medals, Rosary, etc., as channels of getting favour from God. Faith becomes the current that connects us to Jesus through those channels.

We therefore earnestly pray that God may increase our faith so that we may share in the abundance of life that Jesus gives. Amen.

Have a faithful and miraculous Sunday. Peace be with you.