Liturgy Alive, Models of Celebrations

Opening Prayer

Almighty Father,
often we hunger for power
when we don’t have it,
we ask for more when we possess it,
and then we don’t know how to use it well.
Help us always to accept the power
of our influence, our potentials and talents
as gifts coming from your hands
and to use them for the good of others,
to heal and to forgive,
to bring life and to build up,
as Jesus did, your Son,
who lives with you for ever.

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading Introduction

The letter to the Hebrews ends in two chapters asking its readers, as they suffer for their faith, to persevere. They should keep their faith and be inspired by the great believers who came before them and especially by Christ.

First Reading: Heb 12:1-4

What a cloud of innumerable witnesses surround us! So let us be rid of every encumbrance, and especially of sin, to persevere in running the race marked out before us.

Let us look to Jesus the founder of our faith, who will bring it to completion. For the sake of the joy reserved for him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and then sat at the right of the throne of God. Think of Jesus who suffered so many contradictions from evil people, and you will not be discouraged or grow weary. Have you already shed your blood in the struggle against sin?

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 22:26-28, 30-32

R. They will praise you, Lord, who long for you.

I will fulfill my vows before those who fear him.
The lowly shall eat their fill;
they who seek the LORD shall praise him:
“May your hearts be ever merry!”
R. They will praise you, Lord, who long for you.

All the ends of the earth
shall remember and turn to the LORD;
All the families of the nations
shall bow down before him.
To him alone shall bow down
all who sleep in the earth;
Before him shall bend
all who go down into the dust.
R. They will praise you, Lord, who long for you.

And to him my soul shall live;
my descendants shall serve him.
Let the coming generation be told of the LORD
that they may proclaim to a people yet to be born
the justice he has shown.
R. They will praise you, Lord, who long for you.

Gospel Introduction
Jesus uses his power to do good and to give an object lesson on faith to his disciples and to the people. It is a power that gives health and life. When the woman touches Jesus with a sort of magic belief in his power, he insists on faith; so he does when, as a sign of his own resurrection, he brings Jairus’ daughter back to life. Should power in us not mean also a power that lifts up, a power of resurrection?

Gospel Reading: Mk 5:21-43

Jesus crossed to the other side of the lake and while he was still on the shore, a large crowd gathered around him. Jairus, an official of the synagogue, came up and seeing Jesus, threw himself at his feet and asked him earnestly, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her so that she may get well and live.”

Jesus went with him and many people followed, pressing from every side. Among the crowd was a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a lot at the hands of many doctors and had spent everything she had, but instead of getting better, she was worse. Since she had heard about Jesus, this woman came up behind him and touched his cloak thinking, “If I just touch his clothing, I shall get well.” Her flow of blood dried up at once, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her complaint.

But Jesus was conscious that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” His disciples answered, “You see how the people are crowding around you. Why do you ask who touched you?” But he kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the woman, aware of what had happened, came forward trembling and afraid. She knelt before him and told him the whole truth.

Then Jesus said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you; go in peace and be free of this illness.”

While Jesus was still speaking, some people arrived from the official’s house to inform him, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Master any further?” But Jesus ignored what they said and told the official, “Do not fear, just believe.” And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James and John, the brother of James.

When they arrived at the house, Jesus saw a great commotion with people weeping and wailing loudly. Jesus entered and said to them, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.” They laughed at him. But Jesus sent them outside and went with the child’s father and mother and his companions into the room where the child lay. Taking her by the hand, he said to her, “Talitha kumi!” which means: “Little girl, get up!” The girl got up at once and began to walk around. (She was twelve years old.) The parents were astonished, greatly astonished. Jesus strictly ordered them not to let anyone know about it, and told them to give her something to eat.

Commentary

LONG stories of healing: the twelve year old daughter of a synagogue official who comes begging for her life interrupted by the story of a woman who has suffered for twelve years both physically and by being excluded from society because of her sickness. The woman touches Jesus' cloak and Jesus takes the girl by the hand and both are healed and raised to life again. Power resides in Jesus and in everything that touches him-the power of wholeness, of life and humanness. Jesus' words to the child's father when he is told of her death are "Do not fear, just believe." That is Jesus' command to us in the face of long suffering that is endured, even in the face of those who take advantage of illness and make things worse by their insensitivity and advantage over those in need and even in the face of death itself. "Do not fear, just believe!" We are to believe in the words, the presence and the goodness of God and life in Jesus who is with us-all ways now.

General Intercessions

–   That the Church may continue with compassion Jesus’ healing ministry, that the sick may be comforted, the downtrodden set free, and the poor and the weak protected, we pray:

–   That in this world of hunger for food and spiritual values, affluent Churches and nations may share generously with those who have less, we pray:

–   That doctors and nurses and all others who care for the ill and the handicapped may have a great respect for life and be inspired in their task by the love of Christ, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord God, almighty Father
fill the gifts we bring before you
with the power of your Holy Spirit,
that they may become for us
the bread of resurrection and life
of Jesus Christ your Son.
Through this eucharist
change us into people of hope and joy
who go together the way of life
of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prayer after Communion

Lord God, almighty Father,
you have given us the body and blood of your Son
as a source of life-giving power.
Do not allow us to leave it idle
but help us to use it as a force
to uplift the people around us
and to build together a world
of reconciliation, justice and love.
May thus the resurrection of Jesus
work among us already now,
until you raise us up on the last day
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Blessing

“Power had gone out from him,” says the gospel today of Jesus. It was a power that healed and brought back to life. If we have power, may we use it always to raise people up, never to put them down. And may almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.