READING: 2 Corinthians 8:7-15
Paul encourages the Corinthians to honor their commitment to participate in the collection his
churches are organizing for the Christians in Jerusalem. He presents Jesus as an example of selfless
stewardship and reminds them that Christians have received abundantly so that they can share
abundantly.
Now as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness,
and in our love for you—so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking.
I do not say this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love against the
earnestness of others. For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though
he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become
rich. And in this matter I am giving my advice: it is appropriate for you who began last year
not only to do something but even to desire to do something—now finish doing it, so that
your eagerness may be matched by completing it according to your means. For if the
eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has—not according to what
one does not have. I do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you,
but it is a question of a fair balance between your present abundance and their need, so that
their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance. As it is
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written, “The one who had much did not have too much, and the one who had little did not
have too little.”
P: The word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
C: Word of life, Jesus Christ, all glory to you!
Word of life, Jesus Christ, all praise to you!
Our hearts burn within us while you open to us the Scriptures.
Word of life, Jesus Christ, all glory to you!
Word of life, Jesus Christ, all praise to you!
P: The Holy Gospel according to Mark 5th chapter.
C: Glory to you, O Lord.
+ GOSPEL: Mark 5:21-43
Jairus, a respected leader, begs Jesus to heal his daughter. A woman with a hemorrhage was
considered ritually unclean and treated as an outcast. Both Jairus and the unnamed woman come to
Jesus in faith, believing in his power to heal and bring life out of death.
When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around
him; and he was by the sea. Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came
and, when he saw him, fell at his feet and begged him repeatedly, “My little daughter is at
the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.”
So he went with him.
And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. Now there was a woman who
had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. She had endured much under many
physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse.
She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for
she said, “If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.” Immediately her hemorrhage
stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. Immediately aware
that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, “Who
touched my clothes?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing in on you;
how can you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ” He looked all around to see who had done it. But the
woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before
him, and told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well;
go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, “Your
daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?” But overhearing what they said,
Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” He allowed no one to
follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they came to the
house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing
loudly. When he had entered, he said to them, “Why do you make a commotion and weep?
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The child is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside,
and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where
the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha cum,” which means, “Little
girl, get up!” And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years
of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. He strictly ordered them that no one
should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.
P: The Gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise to you, O Christ.
