Life is like a wheel

First Reading: Wis 1:13-15; 2:23-24

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.

Resp. Psalm: Ps 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11, 12, 13

Second Reading: 2 Cor 8:7, 9, 13-15

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.

Gospel:  Mk 5:21-43

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.

There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse. She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. She said, "If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured." Immediately her flow of blood dried up.

She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who has touched my clothes?" But his disciples said to Jesus, "You see how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, 'Who touched me?'" And he looked around to see who had done it. The woman, realizing what had happened to her, approached in fear and trembling. She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth. He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction."

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.

 

Reflection

By Eguia

Life is like a wheel. Sometimes we are up. Sometimes we are down. Sometimes we are happy and sometimes, we are sad and lonely. We tend to forget appreciating life when we are on top of the world. It is only when we are at the bottom that we realize how bless we are. We also think that we are alone facing our trials. Some would ask the question, “Why is this happening to me?” Why am I suffering? When will my troubles end?  This is a cycle that keeps on repeating, up, down, up, down. And again, up..down...   It is how we see life, how we embrace it, how we live it that will make a difference.

Two different characters were depicted in the Gospel- Jairus, an official with a daughter who is at the brink of death and the other one, a woman, who is suffering from continuous bleeding. Each one is different from the other. They have different status in life. But they have one thing in common - unshakeable faith.  A faith that can move mountains. A faith that can make a dead person rise up from the dead or can make the bleeding stop instantly!

Jairus can be described as a person who has a position in the government. A person who has power. He could have asked his servants or his subordinates to get Jesus to help them but he did not do that. He looked for Jesus by himself. The woman on the other hand is an ordinary person. She got sick and has tried all medical means possible to help her out. She also sought Jesus on her own.

Both tried their best and all the means possible to resolve their problems on their own, but failed. It came to the point of losing hope. It was hearing about Jesus that changed their minds.  If you read the Gospel slowly, you will be touched by their actions. “Seeing him she fell at her feet and pleaded earnestly, "If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured." These are words of humility, words of surrender, words of believing. Without any doubt, our gracious Jesus upon seeing this kind of faith, has granted their wishes, their request of healing.

The Gospel reminded us of 5 basic steps to do in life:

1.       Seek God always be it in good or bad times. Do all possible means you can to resolve your  problem.

2.       Humble yourself before God. Acknowledge your faults when you have done wrong. Plead and have an earnest belief that your troubles will be over.

3.         Glorify and thank God always whether you are on top or you are at the bottom.

4.       Enjoy and live life to the fullest with God at your side.

5.       Spread the Word to others. Be an ambassador of hope and faith.

Prayer:

Lord God, we thank You for the message You have imparted to us today. We are often faced with trials and difficulties and we forget that You are just waiting for us to ask Your help. Forgive us for not believing. We seek Your guidance everyday in order to live life in accordance to Your will. May the Gospel continue to remind us of Your great love and that whatever challenges may come our way, may we feel secure that You are always at our side, supporting us. Amen.