July 1 - Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: God who is close to us

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

Death entered the world through the work of the devil.

 

Responsorial Psalm  Psalm 30:2,4,5-6,11,12,13

A prayer of thanksgiving to God for having rescued us

 

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

As Christ became poor for our sake, so must we share with those in need from our abundance.

 

Gospel Reading Mark 5:21-43 ( shorter form, Mark 5:21-24,35b-43)

 

Why did Jesus go all the way to Jairus's house and take his little daughter by the hand in order to bring her back to life? Why not just do it from a distance? It is because God wants to be close to us; he wants to share His very life with us (the divine life), he wants to live in friendship with us. He wants to be part of our lives (to get involved with us -in all its ups and downs- and wants us to be a part of His life.  That’s the whole meaning of INCARNATION: God becoming man. He is Emmanuel: God with us. God truly does want to walk by our side through the Church’s sacraments. They are instruments through which God enters into the very flesh and blood of our daily lives just as Jesus entered into the house of Jairus. Our God doesn't keep his distance; he walks by our side.