EXPLORE THE SUNDAY GOSPEL

13^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jairus’s Daughter and the Woman with a Hemorrhage

When Jesus had crossed again in the boat
to the other side,
a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea.
One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward.
Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying,
“My daughter is at the point of death.
Please, come lay your hands on her
that she may get well and live.”
He went off with him,
and a large crowd followed him and pressed upon him.

There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years.
She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors
and had spent all that she had.
Yet she was not helped but only grew worse.
She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd
and touched his cloak.
She said, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.”
Immediately her flow of blood dried up.
She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.
Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him,
turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who has touched my clothes?”
But his disciples said to Jesus,
“You see how the crowd is pressing upon you,
and yet you ask, ‘Who touched me?’”
And he looked around to see who had done it.
The woman, realizing what had happened to her,
approached in fear and trembling.
She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth.
He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you.
Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.”

While he was still speaking,
people from the synagogue official’s house arrived and said,
“Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?”
Disregarding the message that was reported,
Jesus said to the synagogue official,
“Do not be afraid; just have faith.”
He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside
except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.
When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official,
he caught sight of a commotion,
people weeping and wailing loudly.
So he went in and said to them,
“Why this commotion and weeping?
The child is not dead but asleep.”
And they ridiculed him.
Then he put them all out.
He took along the child’s father and mother
and those who were with him
and entered the room where the child was.
He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum,”
which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!”
The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around.
At that they were utterly astounded.
He gave strict orders that no one should know this
and said that she should be given something to eat.

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MEET OUR EXTENDED FAMILY

St. Oliver Plunkett (Feast Day July 1)

November 1, 1629 – July 1, 1681

St. Oliver Plunkett is especially familiar to the Irish and the English—and with good reason. The English martyred Oliver Plunkett for defending the faith in his native Ireland during a period of severe persecution.

Oliver was born in Ireland in 1629. He studied for the priesthood in Rome and was ordained there in 1654. Due to religious persecution in his native land, it was not possible for him to return to minister to his people. After some years of teaching and service to the poor he was appointed Archbishop of Armagh in Ireland. Archbishop Plunkett established himself as a man of peace and, with religious fervor, set about visiting his people, establishing schools, ordaining priests, and confirming thousands. Four years later, in 1673, a new wave of anti-Catholic persecution began, forcing Archbishop Plunkett to do his pastoral work in secrecy and disguise, and to live in hiding. Meanwhile, many of his priests were sent into exile, schools were closed, Church services had to be held in secret, and convents and seminaries were suppressed. As archbishop, Plunkett was viewed as ultimately responsible for any rebellion or political activity among his parishioners.

Archbishop Plunkett was arrested and imprisoned in Dublin Castle in 1679, but his trial was moved to London where he was tried for treason. With deep serenity of soul, he was prepared to die, calmly rebutting the accusations against him and refusing to save himself by giving false evidence against his brother bishops. Oliver Plunkett publicly forgave all those who were responsible for his death. He was hanged, drawn, and quartered in July 1681. Pope Paul VI canonized Oliver Plunkett in 1975.

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TAKE TIME TO CHAT

· In today’s Gospel story, when Jesus was in the crowd, many people bumped into him, but only one person touched him in faith. What was the difference between how the crowd encountered Christ and how the woman encountered him? What can we learn from this?

· What would it have been like to witness Jesus raising a twelve-year-old girl from the dead?

· Why do you think Jesus healed Jairus’ daughter? Does God still heal today?

· If you lived in the time of St. Oliver Plunkett, would you continue to practice the Catholic faith even if it was prohibited by the government? Why or why not?

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FAMILY FUN

Family Bike Ride

Jesus traveled all over Galilee preaching the Gospel. Take some time to enjoy God's creation by going on a bike ride together as a family. Consider riding by a church and stopping briefly to say a prayer. Remember that inside each Catholic church there is a tabernacle which contains the Eucharist, the real presence of Christ. Be sure to thank Jesus for his sacrifice and the gift of the Eucharist.

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RECIPE OF THE WEEK

Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes

Enjoy this potato dish in honor of our Irish saint!

8 large potatoes, pared

8 oz. cream cheese, cubed

¼ cup sour cream

salt and pepper to taste

butter

paprika

Boil potatoes in salted water until tender; drain and mash. Add cubed cheese, sour cream, butter, salt and pepper and mix well. Cover. Can be stored in refrigerator several days. Before serving sprinkle with paprika and bake uncovered in 350-degree oven 30-35 minutes or until heated through. Serves 8.

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FAMILY PRAYER

Prayer for the Sick by St. Augustine of Canterbury

Let the healing power of Christ flow through your family as you pray this prayer.

Watch, O Lord, with those who wake, or watch, or weep tonight, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend your sick ones, O Lord Christ. Rest your weary ones. Bless your dying ones. Soothe your suffering ones. Pity your afflicted ones. Shield your joyous ones. Amen.

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