13th Sunday - B (June 27, 2021)

 

Jesus Is “The Face of God’s Mercy”

Mark 5: 21-43

 

Three of the people in this Gospel passage did what they were not supposed to do.

 

Jairus asked Jesus to come and “lay” his hand on his daughter who was “at the point of death.”  As a synagogue official, he for sure knew the law.  Yet he asked Jesus, a man and a rabbi, to touch his daughter, who at 12 was at the age of marriage.  Jairus asked Jesus to break the law.

 

The woman who suffered from hemorrhages also broke the law and caused Jesus to also break the law.  By the standards of the time, her illness had rendered her unclean.  Yet, she made her way through a crowd to touch Jesus, again, a man unrelated to her, and a rabbi.

 

She did that because “she had heard about Jesus.”  So must have Jairus.

 

Jairus and the woman did what they did because they knew that Jesus would be willing to break the law to help them.  And that he did.

 

Not only was he known for his power, he was also known for his mercy. 

 

Thus, in the words of Pope Francis, Jesus is “the face of God’s mercy.”

 

Like Jairus and the woman, may we trust in God’s mercy, incarnate for us in Jesus Christ.  

 

 Image source:  www.agnusday.org

12th Sunday - B (June 20, 2021)

 

"Do You Not Care?"
Mark 4: 35-41

The disciples ask the wrong question, "Do you not care that we are perishing?"

Of course Jesus cares.  Not only does he care for their physical well being, he cares for their salvation also.

And not only for his followers.

The Gospel passage begins with Jesus telling the disciples to "cross to the other side" of the lake, the side inhabited more by gentiles than the children of Israel.  Then, following this passage, Mark would recount Jesus healing people who are gentiles.  

For Jesus, these people are all God's children.

And Jesus cares for them all.

Jesus cares for us all. 

Image source:  www.agnusday.org

11th Sunday - B (June 13, 2021)

 

Small Things
Mark 4: 26-34

Jesus speaks of the small things that matter.

All of us probably have experienced how a word, a gesture, a moment of carelessness or thoughtlessness could ruin a relationship or a project that we had taken months or even years to cultivate or develop.

We also know that we can touch people's heart with a genuine word of support, a kind gesture, or a thoughtful action.

Jesus tells us that so it is about the kingdom of God.  A word, a gesture, an action... can be the small seed of the kingdom of God.  Once planted, it is God who lets it grow and yield fruit.  

Last week, we celebrated the Solemnity of Corpus Christi...  A small piece of bread, a sip of wine are now the Body and Blood of the Savior.  

Small Things that bring us God's love and salvation. 

 

Image source:  www.qumran2.net

 

Corpus Christi (March 6, 2021)

 

“This is My Blood”

Readings

 

It seems to be a bizarre sight described in the First Reading from Exodus.  Moses took blood of young bulls, splashed half of it on an altar, then sprinkled the other half on the people. 

 

Therefore, it is important to recognize the symbolic power of what Moses did.  Moses explained to the people, “This is the blood of the covenant.”  The altar represented God.  Thus, God and Israel now share the same blood.  In that covenant, God made Israel God’s family.

 

In the Gospel, Jesus said, “This is my blood of the covenant.”  Thus, in the Eucharist, God’s new covenant with humanity is not established symbolically with animal blood.  It is with the blood of God’s only Son, Jesus Christ.  He is the Lamb of God. 

 

By Jesus’ sacrifice, we are now members of God’s family forever (2^nd Reading)

 

 

Trinity Sunday (May 30, 2021)

 

“I Am With You”

Matthew 28: 16-20

 

The Gospel According to Matthew concludes with these final words of Jesus, “Behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

 

Earlier in Matthew, we learn through the name of the Son of God that God is with us (Emmanuel).  With the Incarnation of God’s only Son, God draws us into God’s life and love.

 

Now, we always live in that love. 

 

We can never fully understand nor explain the mystery of the Trinity.  Nor can we ever fully grasp the depth of God’s love.

 

But we know one thing, that we are living in that mystery of love.  

 

 

 

Pentecost (May 23, 2021)

 

“Peace Be with You”

John 20: 19-23

 

With the gift of the Holy Spirit is the gift of peace.

 

These were the gifts Jesus gives to the disciples who had betrayed him.  These were the gifts given to the disciples who were staying behind locked doors, afraid. 

 

These very disciples are now sent forth with the Holy Spirit to be the instruments of God’s forgiveness and peace.

 

The Risen Christ is giving us the same gifts and the same mission today. 

 Image source: www.agnusday.org

The Ascension of the Lord (Mary 16, 2021)

Jesus is With Us

Mark 16: 5-10

 

Jesus told the disciples, “Go.”

 

At that command, “they went forth and preached everywhere.”

 

The Gospel of Mark was written sometime after that, recording the experiences of the disciples and the early Church.  It testifies, “the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.”

 

To us today the Lord commands, “Go.”

 

Let us continue the mission with the same knowledge and trust that the Lord works with us and accompanies us.  

 

 

Image source:  The image of the globe is from https://en.wikipedia.org