LITURGY IN FOCUS

CALL TO WORSHIP & CENTERING PRAYERS

“She touched his cloak and was healed. Your faith saved you. …
He took the child by the hand, the girl arose immediately.”

13th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Call to worship

Jesus heals two people in today’s Gospel — An older woman and a young girl. Their stories are woven together So that we can see how God’s deepest desire Is to continually provide abundant life for all people.

  • To the point: Life is flowing out of the hemorrhaging woman’s body. Life has gone out of the body of Jairus’ daughter. In response to their faith in him, power goes out of the body of Jesus, restoring their life. In both cases, Jesus’ power is passed through physical contact: the woman touches the hem of Jesus’ garment; Jesus takes the hand of the little girl. Do we have the faith to touch and be touched by Jesus so that whatever is dead within us may be restored to life?
  • Connecting the Gospel (Mark 3: 21-43) to the first reading: God “fashioned all things that they might have being,” that is, life. Whereas death reveals the power of evil at work in the world, Jesus overcomes death with a healing power that brings full, abundant life.
  • Connecting the Gospel to experience: Medical personnel readily recognize that to be healed, an ill person must believe in the possibility of getting well and truly desire to be whole again.

Centering prayers

The Gospel

(Mark 5: 21-43)

He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means,
“Little girl, I say to you, arise!”

An official, Jairus, falls at Jesus’ feet and pleads.
A suffering lady boldly touches his cloak.
And you grant their wishes through your touch.

Jesus, we believe.
Let your healing flow into us, too,
through your poor, your hungry, your daisies,
music, books, hummingbirds, skies.
Let us find you everywhere.
Please touch us with your grace.

The First Reading

(Wisdom 1: 13-15: 2: 23-24)

For God formed man to be imperishable;
the image of his own nature he made him.

God, in your own image you fashioned us,
made all creation for us to use,
and keep wholesome, searching for you.
Let us always search and let us find you
at one with the ins and outs, of our daily lives.

The Second Reading

(2 Corinthians 8: 7.9. 13-15)

Though he was rich, for your sake he became poor
so that by his poverty you might become rich.

From lofty heights he lowered himself:
birthed not into plenty, but into poverty.
You who entered our world this way,
we can find you, see you,
touch you, hear you, know you better,
love you more: you shared your wealth with us.
Let us share that love with others.

Copyright © 2021, Anne M. Osdieck

Music for reflection