Reflection by Deacon Matt

Reflection for 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time: June 30, 2024

Wisdom 1:13-15; 2:23-24: Today’s first reading lies amid the first chapter in Wisdom, wherein we’re called to a life of holiness and obedience that will lead to our being drawn into eternal life. God’s Will is that all of His creatures be saved. Contemplating this passage, let’s reflect on God’s clear message to us of how God “fashioned all things that they might have being; and the creatures of the world are wholesome…” Let’s take time this week to contemplate the choice we have between obedience to God and its consequence: life; as opposed to disobedience to God and its result… if we don’t repent: eternal death and separation from God. Our actions and life choices have consequences. Let’s choose to approach our loving God for forgiveness, mercy and eternal Salvation! 

Psalm 30: “I will praise You, Lord, for You have rescued me.” This psalm of rejoicing exults in the very message we’ve just been given in the first reading… that our God’s ardent desire is to save each and all of us! The second verse calls all of God’s faithful to offer thanks and praise to God for the love, mercy, grace and forgiveness that God has lavished upon us. God’s benevolent Presence is truly ours to celebrate eternally if we make the decision to believe in and obey God, while we’re here on earth. Reflect this week that the “present time is always the best time” to offer God glory, praise, thanks and sacrifices… despite present circumstances. Our God is ever near; whether we’re grieving or rejoicing. Let’s contemplate and celebrate that this week! Remember that faith is a decision… not a feeling! We can offer God worship and thanks and praise, no matter how many challenges we face! It’s not easy, but it’s eminently possible and recommended!

2 Cor. 8:7,9, 13-15: As St. Paul so clearly proclaims in this passage, we most meaningfully demonstrate our faith and trust in God by caring for God’s own people… the poor among us. As St. Paul indicates, we live out our faith much more fully and completely when we share our earthly wealth and resources, as well as our spiritual gifts; with others among us; especially those most in need and vulnerable. Paul refers to sharing money and other commodities as “a gracious act;” and it certainly is! Generosity is always an indicator that the grace of God is truly present! Just for a moment, recall the witness Jesus gave about “the widow’s mite.” That poor woman, as Jesus noted, “gave more than all the rest”… (others with much more temporal wealth, but less spiritual wealth than she had). We might all strive to imitate that widow’s level of sacrifice!

Mark 5:21-43:  As we so clearly see in today’s second reading, faith often requires the ability and willingness to believe and to give. Paradoxically, as in today’s Gospel, faith can also require the ability and willingness to believe and to receive. In our lives of faith, we have to learn to both give and receive, graciously… and with humble love and trust in God. When we’re able to be generous with others, we’re gifted to be conduits of God’s grace. Moreover, we’re no less gifted  when we’re called to be “conduits receiving God’s grace”… through others’ generosity toward us! Reflect that both giving and receiving bind us, via the Holy Spirit, to others around us and to God. Our God both humbles us and raises us up. Glory be to God! In response, let’s joyfully celebrate God’s benevolence! 
 
Deacon Matt