First Reading
Wisdom 1:13-15; 2:23-24
1. “For God formed man to be imperishable; the image of his own nature he made him.” (Wisdom 1:14). What in humankind’s nature is made in God’s own image? Is it true of all of humankind or just Christians?
2. “For he fashioned all things that they might have being; and the creatures of the world are wholesome.” (Wisdom 1:14). Do you and I have any responsibility to respect the whole of creation and keep everything wholesome that is fashioned by God? What can you do to protect our environment?
Second Reading
2 Corinthians 8:7, 9, 13-15
1. To which do you think many people in the world respond better, a wealthy God or a poor God? Explain your answer. With which do you feel more comfortable? Why?
2. This reading is about sharing your abundance. What do you have that you can share? How much time are you willing to give to another? How can you share some of your talents? How much of your treasure are you willing to share? When you share do you also receive?
Gospel
Mark 5:21-43 or 5:21-24, 35b-43
1. Did Jesus leave anything that you might touch if you had a problem and you just wanted to quietly touch/receive something that might help? What? The Eucharist? The woman with the hemorrhage was shunned. Are women in some cultures still oppressed? Is racial bias a type of shunning?
2. What does Pope Francis say the woman with the hemorrhage and the girl’s father had in common? Were they part of Jesus’ group of followers? Did it matter to him?
It is a matter of two interlocking narratives, with a single core: faith; and they show Jesus as the wellspring of life, as the one who restores life to those who trust fully in him. The two protagonists, that is, the little girl’s father and the sick woman, are not disciples of Jesus yet they are satisfied through their faith. They have faith in that man. From this we understand that all are permitted on the Lord’s path: no one should feel as an intruder, an interloper or one who has no right. To have access to his heart, to Jesus’ heart, there is only one requirement: to feel in need of healing and to entrust yourself to him.
Pope Fransis
No one is an intruder. Angeles, 7/1/2018
