Search
-
June 24, 2021Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time June 27, 2021
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 Scriptures last week reminded us that as people of faith we should turn to the Lord in times of trouble. This week’s long passage from Mark’s Gospel focuses us on the power that Jesus has to heal. The power of God is complete. It is a power even over death, as evidenced by Jesus restoring life to the little girl in the Gospel passage. Jesus’ power is a power for good and is available for to all who reach out in faith, like the woman who merely touched His cloak. Yes, Jesus is a power for good. Yet we are also warned that there is a power for evil. The First Reading reminds us that through the temptations of the envious evil one, death entered into the world. Physical and spiritual death became part of our human experience. The evil one who sought to lead us astray from God’s plan for His creation continues to prowl about the earth seeking the death of souls. Our temptation to turn away from God and seek out worldly pleasures and comforts is real and is the ongoing work of evil power. We know that our active faith in Christ is the answer. Our call is to turn to Jesus who is the absolute power of the goodness of God. We are invited to continuously reach out to Jesus and seek His sacramental and sanctifying graces so that we can be filled with goodness and protected from evil. Whenever temptation or evil presents itself during our day, all we need do is pause long enough to “touch his cloak” with a short prayer and say, “Dear Lord, I am in need of that unconditional love and mercy that You always offer to me.” You can be assured that the Holy Spirit will begin to restore you to peace and joy. The more we reach out to touch Christ, the more He makes God’s love available to us.
For further reflection on our call to believe in God, see the Catechism of the Catholic Faith, paragraphs 198-227 and on grace flowing from faith in Christ, paragraph 2005.- God desires a close and intimate relationship with me. How open am I to having a closer relationship with God? How might I seek greater closeness to Him? How might I more frequently seek out the graces that flow from believing in Jesus?
- The teachings of our Catholic faith are provided as a roadmap to joy and peace as well as warnings against the death-filled ways of the evil one. How willing am I to look to my faith in times of challenge in my life? When I face repeated temptations? What causes me to lose my way or lose sight of Jesus?
