7Minutes4Jesus

13^th Sunday In ordinary Time

(28^th June 2009)

“Death was not

God’s doing,

he takes no pleasure in the extinction

of the living”. 

Wisdom 1:13

THE 7 STEPS

SILENCE

WORSHIP

SCRIPTURE READING

MEDITATION

BY HEART

INTERCESSION

COVENANT PRAYER

SCRIPTURE READING: MK. 5:21-43

“…one of the synagogue officials came up, Jairus by name, and seeing him, fell at his feet and pleaded with him earnestly, saying, ‘My little daughter is desperately sick.  Do come and lay your hands on her to make her better and save her life.’  Jesus went with him and a large crowd followed him; they were pressing all round him…”

“…Now there was a woman who had suffered from a hemorrhage for twelve years…she had heard about Jesus, and she came up behind him through the crowd and touched his cloak. ‘If I can touch even his clothes,’ she had told herself ‘I shall be well again…’

Questions for Meditation

1.      How did Jairus approach Jesus when he arrived at the lakeside?  What did Jesus do after that? Who met Jesus on the way?  How does the gospel describe this woman?  What was her intention? 

2.      As soon as she touched his cloak, what happened to her bleeding?  What did Jesus say to his disciples?  Why was the woman frightened and trembling?  What did Jesus say to her in the end?     

3.      Why did Jesus say, ‘Do not be afraid; only have faith’?  To whom was this spoken?   When they reached the home of Jairus, what were the people doing?  How did Jesus take control of the situation?     

By Heart: for Reflection

Jesus said the woman, “My daughter, your faith has restored you to health”.  She expressed her faith when she said, “If I can touch even his clothes, I shall be well again”.  She had heard about who Jesus before in the past but that was enough for her to place her complete trust and faith in a person whom she has never met face to face before. 
She did not even touch the body of Jesus, just his clothes but she touched Jesus in a way that even the crowd who were pressing all around Jesus was unable to.  She touched Jesus with faith.

-          When we pray, do we pray with the same faith in Jesus like the woman in the gospel? 

-          When we touch Jesus in holy communion, do we truly believe that Jesus really present like the woman or are we like the crowd who followed Jesus but do not know who Jesus is personally?   
 

Jesus said to Jairus, “Do not be afraid; only have faith”.  Like any father, Jairus was afraid of losing his daughter.  The whole household were already weeping and wailing unrestrainedly.  They had all accepted the fact that the young girl was dead.  But Jesus said to them, “The child is not dead, but asleep”.  How can Jesus say something like that in a time like that…unless he was in total control of the situation.  Such was the authority of Jesus over death that at the words of Jesus, the little girl got up at once and began to walk. In front of death, we feel helpless and defenseless like Jairus.  But like Jairus when we fall on our feet and acknowledge the power of Jesus over death, we open our lives to the power of the resurrection. 

Intercessions:

1.      For those who are sick and suffering, that the Lord may touch them and filled them with his healing power.

2.      For all of us, that we might desire Jesus more and more each day but surrendering to him our lives in total trust and faith.

3.      For those who have died, that they may be filled with light and peace in the kingdom of heaven with all of God’s angels and saints.

4.      For those who mourn over the death of their loved ones, that the Holy Spirit may strengthen them and console their hearts.

Covenant Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ, by your suffering, death and resurrection, you give us new life:  a life filled with joy and purpose; a life only you can give it, for you are the source of life.  Guide us on our pilgrimage of life, that following you faithfully as your disciples, we may witness boldly to the world, your love and truth.  Enlighten our minds and hearts that your Word which we read and meditated may take roots in our lives.  Help us not to fall into sin and if we do fall due to our human weakness, bring us back to you for you are the way, the truth and the life. We also pray for all our brothers and sisters, wherever they are, who are committed to this prayer, that their faith may be strengthened, their hope assured and their love fulfilled.  In your name we humbly pray.  Amen