Dear sisters and brothers, God is good and he desires life, not death, to his children. Fr. Cielo

1. Welcome to our Bible Study
13th
Sunday in the Ordinary Time B
28 June 2015
In preparation for this Sunday’s liturgy
As aid in focusing our homilies and sharing
Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM

2. 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.

3. 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) in us.
 This is how God shows his
justice. V.15

4. 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.

5. 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 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 must always be on guard.

6. 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.

7. 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 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.

8. 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
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.

9. Reflection on the Psalm
 Like the psalmist, we encounter a lot of
dangers (brush with death).
 We have enemies (those who want to
destroy 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.”

12. 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 is 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.

13. 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.

14. 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).

15. 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.

16. Commentary / Observations
 The synagogue leader is not just an ordinary
person. He 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.

17.  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.

18. 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.

19. 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 mention the theme of the 2nd
reading.

20. 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.

21.  The psalm leads us, who are spared from
death, to praise God.
 It induces us to unite 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.

22.  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).

23.  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 from inequality.

24.  By being just and charitable, we can also
reverse the fate of unlucky individuals, the
desperate families, women and children, and
our chaotic political 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.

25.  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.”

26. Our Context of Sin and Grace
 Euthanasia
 Death
 Hopelessness
 Churchy
 Irrelevant practice of
religion: faith without
justice and charity
 Always looking for signs
and miracles
 Live giving forces
 Integrated practice
of religion: faith,
justice and charity
 Red Cross
 Rescuers

27. 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..