Sunday Readings
Commentary and Reflections
13th Sunday in the Ordinary Time B
June 30, 2015
In preparation for this Sunday’s liturgy
As aid in focusing our homilies and sharing
Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM
1st reading: Wisdom 1,13-15; 2,23-24
• 1,13 God did not make death, nor does he rejoice
in the destruction of the living. 14 For he
fashioned all things that they might have being;
and the creatures of the world are wholesome,
And there is not a destructive drug among them
nor any domain of the nether world on earth, 15
For justice is undying.
• 2,23 For God formed man to be imperishable; the
image of his own nature he made him. 24 But by
the envy of the devil, death entered the world, and
they who are in his possession experience it.
The focus is God’s positive will.
1st reading: Wisdom 1,13-15; 2,23-24
• 1,13 God did not make
death, nor does he rejoice
in the destruction of the
living. 14 For he
fashioned all things that
they might have being;
and the creatures of the
world are wholesome,
And there is not a
destructive drug among
them nor any domain of
the nether world on
earth, 15 For justice is
undying.
Commentary:
The reading belongs to the 1st part of the
book of Wisdom called “The Praises of
Wisdom” (1,1—11,1)
• 1,13 states that death and
destruction of the living are not
God’s will.
• V.14 affirms God’s loving plan. God
has skillfully made us. We are not
flawed creatures.
• V.14b says there is no built-in evil
(destructive drug/element) in us.
• This is how God shows his justice.
V.15
1st reading: Wisdom 1,13-15; 2,23-24
• 2,23 For God formed
man to be
imperishable; the
image of his own
nature he made him.
24 But by the envy of
the devil, death
entered the world,
and they who are in
his possession
experience it.
• 2,23 affirms God’s plan of
creation in Genesis.
• Human beings are made in
God’s image.
• V.24 states that through the
devil, death came to the world
and to those who are possessed
by it.
Reflections on the 1st reading
• God is a good god, not an evil god. (a contradiction in terms)
• God is a good designer. God does not create anything
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evil.
Human beings are destined for life, not death.
Evil is the negation of God’s will.
We cannot attribute evil to God.
Evil is also mysterious. We cannot fully explain what it is
all about, or, where it comes from.
But in our experience, when we allow evil to come into
our hearts, there is destruction; there is chaos and death.
Therefore, we should never give evil a chance.
Responsorial Ps 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11, 12, 13
• R. (2a) I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
• 2 I will extol you, O LORD, for you drew me clear
and did not let my enemies rejoice over me.
4 O LORD, you brought me up from the netherworld;
you preserved me from among those going down into the pit.
• 5 Sing praise to the LORD, you his faithful ones,
and give thanks to his holy name.
6 For his anger lasts but a moment;
a lifetime, his good will.
11 At nightfall, weeping enters in,
but with the dawn, rejoicing.
• 12 Hear, O LORD, and have pity on me;
O LORD, be my helper.
13 You changed my mourning into dancing;
O LORD, my God, forever will I give you thanks.
Responsorial Ps 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11, 12, 13
• R. (2a) I will praise you, Lord, for
you have rescued me.
• 2 I will extol you, O LORD, for
you drew me clear
and did not let my enemies rejoice
over me.
4 O LORD, you brought me up
from the netherworld;
you preserved me from among
those going down into the pit.
• 5 Sing praise to the LORD, you
his faithful ones,
and give thanks to his holy name.
6 For his anger lasts but a
moment; a lifetime, his good will.
11 At nightfall, weeping enters in,
but with the dawn, rejoicing.
• 12 Hear, O LORD, and have pity
on me; O LORD, be my helper.
13 You changed my mourning
into dancing;
O LORD, my God, forever will I
give you thanks.
Commentary
• The responsorial psalm, classified
as thanksgiving hymn, aptly
expresses the feeling of a person
who has been in danger, but has
been saved by God.
• In v.2, the psalmist rejoices
because God did not allow his
enemies to taunt him.
• In v.4, the psalmist describes how
God has saved him.
• The netherworld and the pit are
one and the same. To go into this
place is to be buried.
Responsorial Ps 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11, 12, 13
• R. (2a) I will praise you, Lord, for you
have rescued me.
• 2 I will extol you, O LORD, for you
drew me clear
and did not let my enemies rejoice
over me.
4 O LORD, you brought me up from
the netherworld;
you preserved me from among those
going down into the pit.
• 5 Sing praise to the LORD, you his
faithful ones,
and give thanks to his holy name.
6 For his anger lasts but a moment; a
lifetime, his good will.
11 At nightfall, weeping enters in, but
with the dawn, rejoicing.
• 12 Hear, O LORD, and have pity on
me; O LORD, be my helper.
13 You changed my mourning into
dancing;
O LORD, my God, forever will I give
you thanks.
• In v.5, the psalmist exhorts the listeners
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to give praise (= thanks) to God.
In v.6, the psalmist interprets his near
death (or victory of his enemies) as
punishment for his sins.
The psalmist is happy that God’s anger
over him is only for a moment, not for a
lifetime.
V.11 is a poetic expression of his
experience.
V.12 changes the mood of the psalm, as
if the psalmist is in trouble again. It
should be like v.2a.
V.13 keeps the feeling of thanksgiving
on tract.
Reflection on the Psalm
• Like the psalmist, we encounter a lot of dangers
(brush with death).
• We have enemies (those who want to
destroy/discredit us).
• Like the psalmist, we too should rejoice and
encourage others to celebrate because God has
prevailed over them.
• Let us give thanks to God for having preserved
us from destruction and death.
• We, as survivors, are enjoined to celebrate life.
2nd reading: 2 Cor 8,7.9.13-15
• 7 As you excel in every respect, in faith, discourse,
knowledge, all earnestness, and in the love we have for
you, may you excel in this gracious act also.
• 9 For you know the gracious act of our Lord Jesus
Christ, that for your sake he became poor although he
was rich, so that by his poverty you might become rich.
13 Not that others should have relief while you are
burdened, but that as a matter of equality 14 your
surplus at the present time should supply their needs, so
that their surplus may also supply your needs, that there
may be equality. 15 As it is written: "Whoever had
much did not have more, and whoever had little did not
have less."
The focus is to excel in faith, charity and justice.
2nd reading: 2 Cor 8,7.9.13-15
• 7 As you excel in every respect,
in faith, discourse, knowledge, all
earnestness, and in the love we
have for you, may you excel in
this gracious act also.
• 9 For you know the gracious act
of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for
your sake he became poor
although he was rich, so that by
his poverty you might become
rich. 13 Not that others should
have relief while you are
burdened, but that as a matter of
equality 14 your surplus at the
present time should supply their
needs, so that their surplus may
also supply your needs, that there
may be equality. 15 As it is
written: "Whoever had much did
not have more, and whoever had
little did not have less."
Commentary:
• The passage is an appeal to excel (to
do one’s best) in doing good (justice
and charity). V.7
• V.9 talks of Christ’s kenosis
(emptying). Christ becomes poor to
make us rich.
• Vv.13-14 clarify that self-emptying
results to equality, not
empoverishment.
• Equality comes as a result of sharing.
• V.15 is a wisdom saying. This verse is
a good representative of the Church
of the Poor that believes that “no
one should be too poor that he has
nothing to give; no one should be
too rich that he should not receive
anything.”
Reflections on the 2nd reading
• As we excel in faith, we must also excel in its expression,
that is, justice and charity.
• Excelling in charity and justice is patterned after that of
Christ who became poor to make us rich.
• We can practice charity by getting rid of our surplus
(excess).
• There should be no worry about parting away with surplus.
It does not make our lives miserable.
• In fact, it makes us equal, meaning, no one suffers from
want when everyone is charitable and just.
• When we excel in faith and in charity and justice, we build
a just society, a just community, a just Church.
Gospel: Mk 5, 21-24.35-43
Setting:
• 21 When Jesus had crossed again (in the boat) to the other side, a large crowd
gathered around him (because they wanted to listen to him, they believed in his
words), and he stayed close to the sea (to have a space, to maintain a distance
for better communications).
Intercession
• 22 One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward. Seeing him he fell
at his feet 23 and pleaded earnestly with him (a gesture of intense prayer and
belief, and love for his daughter), saying, "My daughter is at the point of death.
Please, come lay your hands on her that she may get well and live." (Jairus, a Jew
and a practitioner of Judaism, believes in the power of Jesus. He did not care
what his fellow Jews would say. According to our modern standards, the
daughter should be brought to the hospital. Here the request to lay his hands is
expressive of Jairus’ faith.)
Jesus’ positive response
• 24 He went off with him (without question), and a large crowd followed him and
pressed upon him (The imagery of v.21 comes back: large crowd and space).
The focus is the faith in the power of Jesus.
Intermission
• 35 While he was still speaking, people from the synagogue official's
house arrived and said, "Your daughter has died; why trouble the
teacher any longer?" (A concern of the official’s personnel on
Jesus. Meaning, don’t waste his time anymore. Jairus is silent. It
is possible that he agrees with them, but he journeys with Jesus
home.) 36 Disregarding the message that was reported (Jesus is
taking charge. He is confident of what is going to do, he will do
more, more than healing a sick, but now raising a dead), Jesus
said to the synagogue official, "Do not be afraid; just have faith."
37 He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside except Peter,
James, and John, the brother of James (no more crowd, who might
become osiosero, but only 3 apostles).
Setting in the house
• 38 When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official, he caught
sight of a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 So he went
in and said to them, "Why this commotion and weeping? The child is not
dead but asleep." 40 And they ridiculed him (Maybe they don’t know who
he is).
Need for Privacy
• Then he put them all (Jesus is taking charge again. He wants peace and
quiet, to perform a miracle). He took along the child's father and mother
(only now the mother is mentioned) and those who were with him and
entered the room where the child was.
The miracle
• 41 He took the child by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum,"
(Aramaic) which means, "Little girl, I say to you, arise!"
• 42 The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around. (At
that) they were utterly astounded. (the reaction)
The command
• 43 He gave strict orders that no one should know this (part of his
messianic secret?) and said that she should be given something to eat.
Commentary / Observations
• The synagogue leader is not just an ordinary person. He
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occupies a special place in the Jewish community.
He used his training in the synagogue to plead with Jesus
(his gesture of prayer).
He is not ashamed to show to his fellow Jews (the crowds)
his faith in Jesus. He takes a risk.
He follows through when Jesus takes action. He journeys
with Jesus to his house. He is passive when informed
about the death of his daughter. He does not cry, he is still
hopeful.
Her death should have discouraged them, yet, they still
proceed.
• Jesus is the protagonist of the story. He reads the
sincerity of Jairus; assures him that something good
will happen, and goes with him to his house.
• The narrator invites the listeners also to follow
through and see what will happen.
• True enough. It is worth following through.
• Jairus’ prayer is answered. His faith is awarded with his
daughter coming back to life.
Reflections on the gospel
• God can do miracles if we have faith in his power.
• Faith is not just an intellectual assent that God is
powerful, but an active effort to approach God with
feelings and prayer.
• Faith is following up with God, journeying with him even
if all seem to have been lost.
• There is no harm in trying and believing.
• God can reverse the fate of the unlucky.
• Happy ending awaits those who believe.
Tying the 3 readings and the Psalm
• God does not will death nor evil to us. (1st reading)
• The psalmist celebrates his salvation from death.
(Psalm)
• God challenges us to excel in our practice of justice
and charity, not only in faith. (2nd reading)
• God can make the dead rise if we have faith in him.
(gospel)
In the preaching, we may put the 1st reading and gospel together. And then
in the last part, as part of the challenge, we may mention the theme of the
2nd reading.
How to develop your homily / sharing
• Begin with a desperate view of God: powerless, not
listening, has abandoned us, etc.
• Our image of God is conditioned by our experiences.
• First of all, our image of God must be conditioned by our
faith.
• We must be informed of who God is really (through the
Bible, catechism and sound doctrine).
• Challenge the negative view with the message of the 1st
and gospel readings:
• God is good; he does not will evil and death to us, his creatures.
• God can make miracles if we believe in him.
• The psalm leads us, who are spared from death, to
praise God.
• It induces us to unite us, people, for a common
purpose
• To recognize God’s positive will
• The salvation of one can unite us individuals to sing
praises to God, in a liturgy.
• The liturgy is an orderly celebration of God’s love for
all of us.
• We must not take the purpose of liturgy for granted.
• Based on the second reading, life can be better if we
excel not only in faith but also in the practice of charity
and justice.
• Take note of the word “excel.”
• We give quality (high quality / supreme quality) to our faith and
practice.
• In excelling, we promote equality by throwing away our
excesses (surplus).
• Those are garbage, but treasure for the poor.
• Surplus is anything that is in our possession, in our power,
but not needed.
• Surplus refers to all belongings that you have not touched
for a year (St. Basil).
• Let us be reminded of the message of the second
reading, picked up by the PCP II on Christian
communities.
• “There should be no one so poor as to have nothing to give and
there should be no one so rich among us as to have nothing to
receive.”
• It is another way of saying that everyone must
exercise justice and charity in our community.
• In our church, there should be no place for faith
that does not liberate us from inequality.
• How does your parish celebrate the Year of the
Poor?
• By being just and charitable, we can reverse the fate
of unlucky individuals, the desperate families, women
and children, and our insensitive and soulless
political, social and economic systems.
• Inability to practice justice and charity promotes the
misconception that God is evil. (a contradiction in terms)
• It is plain injustice and insult to God, to the Church
and to our faith. It is a fake faith.
• In the eucharist, God is still excelling in giving us his
justice and love, in the forms of bread and wine.
• The eucharist is the ever pervading Christian symbol
of God’s goodness and good will to us. He assures us
of immortality, life eternal.
• The eucharist strengthens us in our struggle to make
our faith alive by excelling in the practice of justice and
peace.
• In the eucharist, God is telling us “I am here. Don’t be
afraid. Move on.”
Our Context of Sin and Grace
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Euthanasia
Death
Hopelessness
Churchy
Irrelevant practice of religion:
faith without justice and charity
• Always looking for signs and
miracles
• Life-giving forces
• Integrated practice of
religion: faith, justice and
charity
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Red Cross
Rescuers
Social services
Cooperatives
JPIC Movements
Suggested Songs
• Enter Rejoice
• Sing a New Song (Entrance)
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2g8K8igzsw
• Sharing
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1ij6D6EyeI
• You Are So Good (Recessional)
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spj_5sTiF5Y
• God is good..