13th SUNDAY OF THE YEAR                                      Do not fear, only believe ENTRANCE ANTIPHON All nations, clap your hands, shout with a voice of joy to God. PENITENTIAL RITE Today’s two Gospel stories have in common: attitudes to life and death. Both reveal the nature of a life beyond the mundane—a world of faith and salvation. Once the girl was restored to life Jesus tells them, ‘Give her something to eat.’ Let us feel sorry for the moments when we have not actively given something to others, some appreciation, understanding, forgiveness, etc., that they may have life. I confess... Glory to God... OPENING PRAYER Let us pray. Father, you call your children to walk in the light of Christ. Free us from darkness and keep us in the radiance of your truth. We ask this... FIRST READING (In today’s portion of the Book of Wisdom the author speaks of life and death. God is the author of life, He created all things good and made human beings in His own image and likeness. Death is the work of the devil for people who choose his way. Through the real wisdom of God, people choose life and share life with others.) A reading from the Book of Wisdom (1:13-15; 2:23-24) God did not make death, and he does not delight in the death of the living. For he created all things that they might exist, and the generative forces of the world are wholesome, and there is no destructive poison in them; and the dominion of Hades is not on earth. For righteousness is immortal. God created man for incorruption, and made him in the image of his own eternity, but through the devil’s envy death entered the world, and those who belong to his party experience it. This is the Word of the Lord PSALM (29) Response: I will praise you, Lord, you have rescued me. I will praise you, Lord, you have rescued me and have not let my enemies rejoice over me. O Lord, you have raised my soul from the dead, restored me to life from those who sink into the grave. R./ Sing psalms to the Lord, you who love him, give thanks to his holy name. His anger lasts but a moment; his favour through life. At night there are tears, but joy comes with dawn. R./ The Lord listened and had pity. The Lord came to my help. For me you have changed my mourning into dancing, O Lord my God, I will thank you for ever. R./ SECOND READING (Paul appeals to the generosity of the Corinthians in the context of an exquisite ‘theology of giving.’ All are rich in some areas and are poor in some areas. Paul urges us to strive for justice by giving from our abundance. Paul’s advice, if followed, would transform the world—that is, if those who have excess were to give to the less fortunate, they would have no lack.) A reading from the Second Letter of St Paul to the Corinthians (8:7-9,13-15) As you excel in everything — in faith, in utterance, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in your love for us — see that you excel in this gracious work also. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of equality your abundance at the present time should supply their want, so that their abundance may supply your want, that there may be equality. As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing over, and he who gathered little had no lack This is the Word of the Lord ACCLAMATION (Jn 15:15) Alleluia, alleluia! I have called you friends, says the Lord, because all I have heard from my Father, I have made known to you. Alleluia! GOSPEL (Jesus should not be considered just a miracle-worker. His miracles should lead us to have a personal relationship with him. We should do our utmost to better life’s quality for everyone.) A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St Mark (5:21-43) When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him; and he was beside the sea. Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet, and besought him, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.” And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. And there was a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. She had heard the reports about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I shall be made well.” And immediately the haemorrhage ceased; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone forth from him, immediately turned about in the crowd, and said, “Who touched my garments?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” And he looked around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had been done to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” While he was still speaking some people came from the ruler’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?” But ignoring what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. When they came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, he saw a tumult, and people weeping and wailing loudly. And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why do you make a tumult and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi”; which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” And immediately the girl got up and walked; for she was twelve years old. And immediately they were overcome with amazement. And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.                                                                       This is the Gospel of the Lord I believe in God,/the Father Almighty,/ Creator of heaven and earth./ I believe in Jesus Christ,/his only Son, our Lord./ He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit/ and born of the Virgin Mary./He suffered under Pontius Pilate,/was crucified, died, and was buried./He descended to the dead./On the third day he rose again./He ascended into heaven,/and is seated at the right hand of the Father./He will come again to judge the living and the dead./I believe in the Holy Spirit,/the holy catholic Church,/the communion of saints,/the forgiveness of sins,/the resurrection of the body,/and the life everlasting./ Amen. PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL Cel: Dear sisters and brothers, let’s thank and praise Father, the Lord of life, for revealing to us through his Son Jesus, his power and authority, by healing the sick and giving life to the dead. Let us approach him with great faith, by praying: Response: Lord! Help us to give life to others. 1. That as Jesus went towards the people in their times of difficulties, sufferings, the Church leaders may have the courage and humility to go to the people where they are. R./ 2. That we may be able to feel with others in their moments of loneliness, despair, grief, and help others in need, unwell and struggling with life to discover meaning and hope as Jairus felt towards his daughter. R./ 3. That we may contribute to the relief of pain and suffering of people as we hear Jesus telling us along with the people in Jairus’ house, ‘you give her something to eat.’ R./ 4. That we may have hope that Jesus has the solution to all our problems if we place our trust in him and call upon him. R./ 5. That our leaders and governments to respond to the call of the Creator to honour the great gift of life, especially care for women and children with laws and policies to empower them. R./                              (pray for local and personal needs) Cel: God of care and concern! Thank you for the gift of life and giving us a share in your divine life. Help us to share that life with others in their need and thus build your kingdom of justice. We ask this in the name of Jesus. PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS Lord God, through your sacraments you give us the power of your grace. May this eucharist help us to serve you faithfully. We ask this… PREFACE (P 29) Father, all-powerful and ever-living God, we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord. Through his cross and resurrection he freed us from sin and death and called us to the glory that has made us a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people set apart.  Everywhere we proclaim your mighty works for you have called us out of darkness into your own wonderful light. And so, with all the choirs of angels in heaven we proclaim your glory and join in their unending hymn of praise: All: Holy, holy, holy... COMMUNION ANTIPHON O, bless the Lord, my soul, and all that is within me bless his holy name. PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION Lord, may this sacrifice and communion give us a share in your life and help us bring your love to the world. Grant this…               Liturgy & Life A greater appreciation of Jesus and his ministries draws us to look at the sociological ladder model prevalent at his time. This ladder symbolizes the hierarchical status of men and women in society and the place that each occupied. At the top of the ladder of 8 steps were the royal families, followed by the big landlords, then big merchants, and then small landlords and merchants. On the 5th rank were the skilled labourers, followed by the slaves, then beggars and lepers, and the eighth and the last rank was occupied by women. Women in the Jewish culture were attributed neither place nor dignity in society. So, as Jesus walked about seeking to restore health to the sick, sight to the blind, life to the dead, so one of the great missions of Jesus was to uplift the lowly women and restore their dignity as human persons. In today’s gospel, Jesus restores health to an ailing woman and raises back from the sleep of death a 12-year-old girl who was on the threshold of womanhood. The miracles showcase the personal faith of the woman and the girl’s parents. Jesus tells the woman, ‘your faith has saved you’ (v. 34). Jesus speaks of salvation by faith in him and not merely by his healing. The one being healed must be present to, present with, the healer. There is a communion, a coming together in faith. The girl’s parents - Peter, James, and John — those who shared in faith were present with Jesus. The woman touched his cloak. The girl got up at his command. No longer at the end of health, no longer on the brink of death, Jesus brought back “fullness” of health, the “height” of living. He brought them back in “top” condition. He restored to the women the dignity that rightfully belonged to them. A 28- year-old school teacher developed cancer behind her nose. Her in-laws told her that she is not healed because of her lack of faith. Yet, today’s gospel brings light to the communitarian aspect of healing. The faith of the in-laws could heal her. If only they bore their faith with them and were present to her, with her, in her suffering; they could be with her in her healing. Let us ask ourselves: Can my faith heal, save, give life to many, some, or even just one? In this Eucharist let us draw strength from Jesus, in whom, with whom, and through whom alone we can remain confident and hopeful as we continue to face the daily challenges that await us.                                                                               –Fr George Stephen, S.J. June/July 2009  READINGS OF THE WEEK  Psalter Week 1 29 Mon (R) Sts. PETER & PAUL, Aps (Sol) Ac 12:1-11/ Ps 33:2-3,4-5,6-7,8-9/ 2 Tim 4:6-8,17-18/ Mt16:13-19 30 Tue (G) Gen 19:15-29/ Ps 25:2-3,9-10,11-12/ Mt 8:23-27 01 Wed (G) Gen 21:5,8-20/ Ps 33:7-8,10-11,12-13/ Mt 8:28-34 02 Thu (G) Gen 22:1-19/ Ps 114:1-2,3-4,5-6,8-9/ Mt 9:1-8 03 Fri (R) ST THOMAS, Apostle of India (Sol) Ac 10:24-35/ Ps 41:2,3,5c-f/ Heb 1:2-3 or 1 Pt 1:3-9/ Jn 20:24-29 04 Sat (W) St Elizabeth of Portugal, Gen 27:1-6,15-29/ Ps 134:1-2,3-4,5-6/ Mt 9:14-17