Little girl, I tell you to get up.

I Reading: Wisdom 1:13-15; 2:23-24: It was the devil’s envy that brought death into the world.

II Reading: 2Cor 8:7. 9.13-15: In giving relief to others, balance what happens to be your surplus now against their present need.

How can a person lay hold of Jesus and His power? This passage deals specially with the desperate and hopeless person; it shows how the desperate person can approach Jesus and secure His help in any situation.

1.    The crowds gathered around Jesus (v.21)

2.    Scene 1: A ruler’s desperate approach (v.22-24)

a.    A selfless attitude

b.    A humble attitude

c.     A pleading attitude

d.    An expectant, believing attitude

e.     The result: Jesus grants the desperate request

3.    Scene 2: A woman’s hopeless approach (v.25-34)

a.    A last-resort attitude

b.    A shy, embarrassed, unworthy attitude

c.     An expectant, believing attitude

d.    A confessing attitude

1)    The cost of service to Jesus

2)    The insensitivity of the apostles

3)    The confession of the woman

e.     The result: Jesus grants the hopeless request

4.    Scene 3: A ruler’s believing approach (v.35-43)

a.    Not a fearful, despairing attitude

1)    Devastating circumstances

2)    The answer to the terrible circumstances: Jesus’ challenge

b.    Not a wailing, whining attitude

1)    Social customs and influences: to express hopelessness

2)    The answer: Jesus’ comfort and assurances

c.     Not a sarcastic, sceptical attitude

d.    An obedient attitude: The parents follow Jesus despite the sarcasm

e.     Jesus grants the believer’s request

1)    The power of Jesus

2)    The amazement of the family

3)    The thoughtfulness of Jesus

Thought: When all else fails, there is Jesus to heal and help the person provided there is a deep faith in the power of Jesus.

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 29^th JUNE, FEAST OF THE APOSTLES PETER AND PAUL, SOLEMNITY

 

I Reading: Acts 12:1-11: Herod arrested Peter, but an angel released him from his chains, leading him out of prison and into freedom.

II Reading: 2 Tim 4:6-8.17-18: Paul tells us that he has fought the good fight and finished the race. Now only martyrdom awaits him.

Gospel: Mt 16:13-19: When Jesus asked the disciples what identity people attributed to him, Peter answered on behalf of the Church that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

We celebrate today the feast of the apostles Peter and Paul. Let us thank God for these two apostles the light and strength they needed to announce the Good News of Jesus Christ throughout their life-time, and witnessed to Christ at their death through their shedding of their blood. Both were executed in Rome around the year 67 A.D., that is, some 35 years after Jesus’ death and resurrection.

These two saints are known as the “Pillars of the Church.” The Church of Christ is built by the blood of the Lamb (Jesus Christ), by the blood of the martyrs and believers. “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.”

Andrew brought his brother Simon to Jesus. Jesus fixed his eyes on him and said “You are Simon, son of John; you are to be called Cephas, which means a rock (Jn 1:42).” In today’s Gospel Jesus confirmed and strengthened the faith of Peter and gave him the power and authority to carry out the mission of Christ and nothing should destroy or diminish the mission of Christ while proclaiming the Good News of Christ.

Simon Peter was an ordinary person and illiterate (Jewish mission) where as Paul was the highly educated person (Gentile mission). Both invested their whole energy in Christ and loved him so much and followed him immediately till the end of their lives even unto death. Even persecution and opposition did not stop them spreading the Gospel of Christ. Although they had lots of differences and contrasting characters, still they worked together (Unity) and preached the Good News to the people (diversity) and continued the mission of Christ with a missionary zeal (universal mission for the salvation of souls).

No persecution can destroy the Church; whereas the lack of unity and integrity can destroy the lives of the faithful in the church. 

Let us ask for God’s grace to strengthen our faith in Christ and imbibe the spirit of these two saints to continue the mission of Jesus Christ despite persecution, rejection, opposition and temptations in our lives.

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12^TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME-B

 

I Reading: Job 38:1,8-11: Here your proud wave shall break.

II Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:14-17: Now the New creation is here.

Gospel: Mark 4:35-41: Who can this be? Even the wind and the sea obey him.

Today’s three readings deal with the problem of suffering, trails, natural calamities, loss of material goods, anxieties, dissension, temptations and persecution in human life. We can ask some questions:

What is our attitude toward sickness or suffering or persecution?

How should a Christian or believer behave in time of trail?

Who is the author of our life?

The answers will be given throughout the readings of the day.

1. The answer given by Job to the problems of his own suffering.

The purpose of the Book of Job is to help people accept the trails of life trusting in God’s wisdom and goodness, as Job had done.

Job complains to God: “Is it right that an honest person like me should be allowed to suffer this way?”

Having listened to Job’s complaint and to his four friends’ wrong way of reasoning, God intervenes. He challenges Job to explain the way things in nature work, how the lightning and thunder come about, how the sea keeps in its own place, how the stars move in the sky and so on. Job is unable to answer even a single question among the many put to him by God. Having made him realize how limited his knowledge is, God leads him to the right conclusion:

“If you cannot even explain how visible things in nature work, how can you or your friends pretend to explain what no man has ever fathomed: God’s ways of dealing with people…?

Job realizes his foolishness and begs for pardon. He has understood God’s message which was as follows:

The wise course for anyone who suffer is to refrain from questioning God, to submit to God’s wisdom, power and love.

The gospel is ending with “they were filled with awe and said to one another, who can this be? Even the wind and the sea obey him.

Who is Jesus for me today? The Son of God, the Messiah, the redeemer, the saviour of the world, the creation came to be through him. He is the new creation.

Jesus performed four kinds of miracles:

1. The healing miracles-Jesus healed the sick and suffering and the demoniac spirit

2. The feeding miracles- Jesus fed the hungry and thirty

3. The resuscitation- Jesus raised the dead and gave life to the dead

4. The nature miracles- Jesus calmed the wind and the sea-controlled over the nature and the universe. He is the new creation and the universe is existed through him.

2. A clearer explanation about suffering provided by Jesus:

          a) The boat represents the church: Jesus entrusted the church to his apostles; their task was to cross the lake and to take the boat to “the other shore” i.e. heaven.

Mattew 28:20- I am with you always.

          b) Jesus was asleep:

                    The first lesson is that Jesus really became man (so human).

                    The second lesson is that the apostles failed to learn was Jesus’ faith and trust in his Father.

          c) The complaint of the apostles: “Master, do you not care? We are perishing or doing down.” (Mk 4:39

          d) The reply of Jesus: “Quiet now” Be calm!”

Having restored the calm, Jesus rebuked his disciples:

“Why are you so frightened? How is it that you have no faith?” Mk 4:40

It was like telling them: It is high time that you put your complete trust in me; otherwise you will always remain at the mercy of a thousand fears.

The lesson about suffering that Jesus teaches us through the episode of the storm in the lake is clear enough. He teaches us in the way he accepted his own trials, his suffering and his death.

Not for a moment did he doubt his Father’s love for him; his last words on the cross were an expression of his full trust in Him: “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” (Lk 23:46)

The people those who came to Jesus with a desperate need and faith in him never went back with an empty handed but received the healing touch and the power of Jesus.

Mt. 11:28-Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Mt. 21:22- If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayers.

Jn. 14:27- Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts troubled and do not be afraid.

3. A model of trust in Jesus’ love: Paul:

Paul completes the lesson on suffering as follows: if Christ died and rose for us, we should live and die for him; in his plans of love our trials are only stepping stones to our own resurrection.

Thought: In time of trial, never question God but rather, put our trust in Him for He loves us. Jesus may appear asleep, deaf to our prayer, yet he is very much concerned about us. Make sure that Jesus is in our boat, in the boat of our soul and Christian community to which we belong. He will lead us safely to the other shore-heaven. Jesus teaches us how to stand up to difficulties courageously with complete trust in his Father’s love.

The Authority of Jesus over Nature: Rest and Peace, 4:35-41

What was the purpose of this experience? Why was a storm or squall allowed to arise on the sea with Jesus in the boat? The answer is given in v.14. And what a marvellous purpose it was: to stir his people to ask, “Who is this?” Jesus proved again that he is the Messiah! Calming the storm would do three things.

1. It would demonstrate who he is: The Sovereign Lord who has all power-even power over nature (nature miracle).

2. It would strengthen the belief of his followers, belief in him as the Messiah and in his personal care as their Saviour.

3. it would give to all generations a picture of his care and power to deliver through all the storms of life (trials and fearful experiences).

It does not matter what the storm or trail is nor how terrifying it may be-Jesus is able to deliver and bring about the most assuring calm.

In this experience, God has demonstrated His wonderful care and power to deliver the believer through all the storms of life.

1. Rest and peace are sought after a tiring day (v.35-36)

          a) At evening- Jesus was fatigued, tired

          b) He was so fatigued, he went as he was-without any preparation

          c) Other ships/boats went also

2. Rest and peace can be experienced despite a great storm (v.37-38)

          a) Boat filled with water

          b) Jesus slept- as a true human

3. Rest and peace are a concern to Jesus (v.38-39)

          a) The disciples feared lest they drown

          b) The power of Jesus to control the situation

4. Rest and peace come through two sources (v.40-41)

          a) Through faith

          b) Through Jesus, His power and His Word, v.39-“Quiet! Be still”

Thought: Three important lessons on prayer:

i. We must pray before momentous events (Mt 7:7; James 5:13; Jer 33:3).

ii. We must pray for others (Eph 6:18).

iii. We must pray for strength to withstand in all trails (Mt 26:41;Rom 8:26; Is 41:17, 58:9).

Jesus Christ saves a person’s life eternally provided he/she loses his/her life for Christ.

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SUNDAY- 11^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME -B

 

I Reading: Ezekiel 17:22-24: Speaking of Israel’s future, Ezekiel pictures God transplanting a tiny spring into new ground where it grows into a mighty cedar.

II Reading: 2Corinthians 5:6-10: Though we make our journey “by faith and not by sight”, we walk with confidence.

Gospel: Mark 4: 26-34: Jesus compares the kingdom to a mustard seed that grows into a mighty tree, but its growth is often as imperceptible as that of a seed hidden in the ground.

The Parable of the Growing Seed: The Growth of Believers, 4:26-29

The three readings of today give us courage to deal with discouragement  in human life. there are two main causes of our loosing heart in Christian life: first, our personal weakness and second, the problems arising within the Christian community.

The common lesson in all the three  readings as follows: the success of the kingdom of God,  both within ourselves and in the world at large, is more God’s work than ours. We should not trust ourselves but place in God our confidence. All that God wants from us is that we try to carry out his will at all times in spite of our weakness.

No one can stop the kingdom of God from spreading. Although the kingdom of God starts from a tiny beginning, it has an enormous potential and power within it to spread. Unless we ourselves prevent it, God’s kingdom keeps on growing within us at all times. To secure our harvest we must do God’s will. The way we do God’s will determine the quality of the harvest which Christ will come to gather when we die. Human no matter how powerful he/she may appear, is very weak; his/her works no matter how great, are doomed to disappear. God’s works remain; so will the work of those who put their trust in the Lord, and not in themselves. God’s wisdom, power and love shine mostly clearly in the way he plants and tends the growth of this kingdom. God’s kingdom will attain maturity when we keep God’s will during life. God has fixed the time of our death with infinite love. He has chosen the most suitable moment to complete our salvation. Let no one discouraged in the work of tending the field of his or her soul. Our harvest is assured.

This parable tells what happens to the fruitful seed in the parable of the Sower or Soils (Mk 4:1-20). It describes how the seed goes about growing, and the process through which it passes. The seed is the Gospel and the ground is the good soil, the believer individually or the church collectively. There are four things said about the fruitful seed once it has taken root, but the major point is that growth is sure; it is inevitable. Once the Gospel has taken root in the heart of a believer, growth will take place. The believer will grow spiritually. This is the great promise of God, the great assurance and confidence, the great hope and encouragement to every believer.

1.    The parable: describes the kingdom (v.26)

2.    The seed is sown by a man (v.26)

3.    The growth is not of man (v.27)

4.    The growth is sure and constant, but gradual (v.28)

5.    The growth is consummated and harvested (v.29)

The Parable of the Mustard Seed: The Growth of God’s Kingdom, 4:30-32

Jesus is describing the growth and greatness of his kingdom, that is, of Christianity. He shows how Christianity begins as the smallest of seeds and grows into the greatest of movements. It is a powerful message to all. The seed of faith begins ever so small in the Baptism and nourishes day by day to the fullness of joy and happiness with the Lord.

Thought: The growth of a tree from a small seed is nothing compared to the growth of a person who truly comes to know Christ nor to the growth of a church that is truly committed to the mission of Christ (John 12: 24).

Thought: The genuine believer (good soil) can rest assured: he is truly God’s child, and God will complete the work of grace in his/her life. The grace of God planted in a person’s heart is unstoppable. The believer’s confidence is in God, not in his/her own flesh and weak efforts. Therefore there is no reason for being down or discouraged, withdrawn and depressed.

Growth requires much patience and trust. Growth is of God, and the believer is to trust and to wait upon God for growth. What an encouragement to believers!

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