Sunday, July 01, 2018

God created man to share in His own blessed life (readings for July 1, 2018)

Key:
What these passages tell us about God
What these passages tell us to do
Commentary

God did not make death, nor does he rejoice in the destruction of the living.
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 netherworld on earth, for justice is undying. For God formed man to be imperishable; the image of his own nature he made him. But by the envy of the devil, death entered the world, and they who belong to his company experience it.

Responsorial Psalm PS 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11, 12, 13
R. (2a) I will praise youLord, for you have rescued me.
I will extol you, O LORD, for you drew me clear and did not let my enemies rejoice over me. O LORD, you brought me up from the netherworld; you preserved mefrom among those going down into the pit. 
R. I will praise youLord, for you have rescued me.
Sing praise to the LORD, you his faithful ones, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger lasts but a moment; a lifetime, his good will. At nightfall, weeping enters in, but with the dawn, rejoicing.
R. 
I will praise youLord, for you have rescued me.
Hear, O LORD, and have pity on me; O LORD, be my helper.
You changed my mourning into dancing; O LORD, my God, forever will I give you thanks.
R
. I will praise youLord, for you have rescued me.

Brothers and sisters: 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.

For you know the gracious act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. Not that others should have relief while you are burdened, but that as a matter of equality 
your abundance at the present time should supply their needs, so that their abundance may also supply your needs, that there may be equality. As it is written: Whoever had much did not have more, and whoever had little did not have less.


Alleluia CF. 2 TM 1:10
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Our Savior Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life to lightthrough the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MK 5:21-43 OR 5:21-24, 35B-43
When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea.  One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward. Seeing him 
he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying, "My daughter is at the point of death. Please, come lay your hands on her that she may get well and live." He went off with him, and a large crowd followed him and pressed upon him.

***
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?"
Disregarding the message that was reported, Jesus said to the synagogue official, "
Do not be afraid; just have faith."  He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official, he caught sight of a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. So he went in and said to them, "Why this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep." And they ridiculed him. Then he put them all out. He took along the child's father and mother and those who were with him and entered the room where the child was. He took the child by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum,"which means, "Little girl, I say to you, arise!" The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around. At that they were utterly astounded. He gave strict orders that no one should know this and said that she should be given something to eat.

1.   Today’s readings richly illustrate the truths summarized in the first paragraph of the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life. For this reason, at every time and in every place, God draws close to man. He calls man to seek him, to know him, to love him with all his strength. He calls together all men, scattered and divided by sin, into the unity of his family, the Church. To accomplish this, when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son as Redeemer and Saviour. In his Son and through him, he invites men to become, in the Holy Spirit, his adopted children and thus heirs of his blessed life.

2.   So how do we respond to that gracious love?

A.   We humbly come to Him, seeking His mercy (gospel).

B.   We do not let ourselves be discouraged or deceived by those who have not grasped God’s wonderful love for us (gospel). 

C.   We praise and thank Him for his wonderful acts of love (psalm).

D.  We share what we have with each other (second reading). That is one of the ways God delivers His love to us.

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