THIRTEENTH SUNDAY OF YEAR B
30th June/1st July 2018

Dear Parishioner

Today's readings speak of the gift of life, both physical and spiritual, that God has given us. They urge and challenge us to be grateful for our health in body and soul and to use God's gifts of life and health responsibly.

The first reading, taken from the Book of Wisdom, tells us that God gave us life and health and that it was the jealousy of Satan that produced illness and death. The reading also suggests that the goal of our lives on earth is to know, to love, and to serve God here with perfect health in body and soul, and to share God's immortal life forever.

In the second reading, St. Paul asks the Corinthian Christian community to show to their Jewish brothers and sisters in Jerusalem, living in poverty and sickness, the kindness and compassion which Jesus expressed in his healing ministry. Paul asked the Corinthians to be generous in their contributions to a fund being collected for their suffering brothers and sisters. The generosity of Jesus is the central theme here also, because Paul describes Jesus' life, death and Resurrection as "the gracious act of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Today's Gospel describes two of our Lord's miracles, the healing of a woman who suffered from a chronic bleeding disease and the returning of the dead daughter of Jairus to life. These healings teach us that Jesus willed life, and willed full life for all God's children. The two healings also reveal Jesus as a generous, kind and compassionate God Who wills that men should live their wholesome lives fully.

They also give us further proof of the Divine power and the Infinite mercy of our Saviour. These miracles were worked by Jesus as reward for the trusting Faith of a synagogue ruler and of a woman with a haemorrhage. Although the Faith of the ruler might have been defective, and the woman's Faith might have been a bit superstitious, Jesus amply rewarded the Faith they had by granting them health and life.

So let us accept God's call to health, wholeness and holiness and continue the healing mission of the Church: As members of the Church, we are not excused from our vocation to be healers. We do our share of Christ's healing mission by visiting the sick, by praying for their healing, and by boosting their morale with our loving presence, words of encouragement and inspiration. Thus, we may enable them to experience the compassion of Jesus the healer.

Fr Sabu Pariyadan RCJ

SEND, O LORD: HOLY APOSTLES INTO YOUR CHURCH

Notices:
Please remember to pray for:

Daily for the sick clergy of our Diocese

The sick and housebound

Those who have recently died

Years Mind:
Monday: Fr James Edward Littleton
Wednesday: Fr Patrick Curran
Thursday: Fr Patrick Carthy
Friday: Fr Thomas Barrett
Sunday: Fr Peter Brady

Next Sunday - FOURTEENTH SUNDAY OF YEAR B

First Reading: Ezekiel 2:2-5
The sons are defiant and obstinate and they shall know that there is a prophet among them.

Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
I shall be very happy to make my weaknesses my special boast so that the power of Christ may stay over me.

Gospel: Mark 6:1-6
A prophet is despised only in his own country.