13th Sunday in Ordinary Time(Cycle B, Year II)

Community Word:Faith anchored on Jesus Christ is unshakeable.

Theme: Unshakeable faith brings life through the spoken word of Jesus.

Promise: “…your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.”(Mk 5:34)

Reflection:
The community word for this month: “Faith anchored on Jesus Christ is unshakeable,” bid us to put our complete trust in God’s saving-power. Jesus alone has the power to bestow fullness of life. And as Christians, we affirm this with our minds and hearts; on this rests our hope.

And for this week, our theme says: “Unshakeable faith brings life through the spoken word of Jesus.” It brings to light that Jesus wants us to spread the fragrance of His love. As sensitive Christians, we always realize that Jesus invites us to declare the Good News where we are and right now. To be his disciples means to accept and be responsive to the call of Jesus. The Good News is the unique chance for everyone to be saved. Let us make sure that our study of the word of God is true to our experience which has led us to understand our lives better. Much is required of us, but we are not to be anxious because God, as the source of all goodness, will provide whatever we need so that we may live up to our noble calling.

The gospel shows us that salvation comes after the heels of strong faith. The official, Jairus, needed to obey Jesus’ counsel – “Do not be afraid; just have faith,” (Mk 5:36), to witness the healing of his daughter. So also with the hemorrhaging woman when Jesus assured her of her healing as a consequence of her quiet but very strong faith – “your faith has saved you,”(Mk 5:34). Here we understand the power of faith and how Jesus helps those who put their absolute trust in Him. The grace of God assures us that some things can still be done amidst all the chaos around us. Regardless of our circumstances, God always urges us to deepen our faith, away from fear. Unshakeable faith opens the door to the flow of blessings that God wants to impart to His people, but closed hearts limit the possibilities of the burning heart of God. Let our hearts welcome and imitate the heart of our Savior.

Faith also means that we must rise above our defeats and defects, from our mistakes, from our blunders, from our failures. Just as Jesus tells the little girl to rise -“Talithakoum” (Mk 5:41), God is also commanding us to rise up. He is always reaching out to us; He is always touching us. Whenever He touches us, there is healing, there is new life, there is salvation. We need to continuously ignite our hope and confidence through prayer and self-offering to God. God helps us to become aware of the needs of others and respond in a generous way. In the midst of fear, hatred and vengeance, the presence of God assures us that healing will take place and that peace will triumph. By His spoken word, we live through the compassion of the Lord and become instruments of peace to others.

We ourselves should be the living gospel. As Pope Paul VI noted, “Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses.”With blazing hearts of faith to our Almighty God, let our Christian lives be the shining light. Let us be effective beloved disciples of the Lord, helping the world become more fervent in the Lord’s service where people are able to do the work of Jesus as present-day disciples working in unity.

What the world needs today is conversion of hearts of people, hearts that abound in firm faith. Jesus, our great leader and teacher, leads us to experience grace in a deeper way, to bring His people closer to him, by His spoken word and with obedient faith. Let us live to receive the fulfillment of His promise as we journey in life: “…your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction,” (Mk 5:34).

Prayer:
Dear Lord, wepray for the grace of a strong and unshakeable faith especially during times of afflictions and illnesses. Do not allow our hearts to be discouraged and lose hope, but remind us that Your love is encompassing and unfailing. Keep our faith alive that we may be sustained in this life until we see You in Your heavenly glory. Amen.

Reflection Questions:
1.How can I overcome my sorrows and trials and attain the promised newness of life? What is the state of my faith?
2.How do I show my concern for my brothers and sisters who are undergoing trials and sufferings?

This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
July 1, 2018 (Sun) – Wis 1:13-15;2:23-24/Ps 30:2,4,5,6,11,12,13/2Cor 8:7,9,13-15/Mk 5:21-43
July 2, 2018 (Mon) – Am 2:6-10, 13-16/|Ps 50:16-23/Mt 8:18-22
July 3, 2018 (Tue) – Eph 2:19-22/Ps 117:1, 2/Jn 20:24-29
July 4, 2018 (Wed) – Am 5:14, 15, 21-24/Ps 50:7-13, 16, 17/Mt 8:28-34
July 5, 2018 (Thu) – Am 7:10-17/Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11/Mt 9:1-8
July 6, 2018 (Fri) – Am 8:4-6, 9-12/Ps 119:2, 10, 30, 40,131/Mt 9:9-13
July 7, 2018 (Sat) – Am 9:11-15/Ps 85:9-14/Mt 9:14-17
“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”