R/. I will extol you, Lord, for you have raised me up.

I will extol you, Lord, for you have raised me up,
and have not let my enemies rejoice over me.
O Lord, you have lifted up my soul from the grave,
restored me to life from those who sink into the pit. R.

Sing psalms to the Lord, you faithful ones;
give thanks to his holy name.
His anger lasts a moment; his favour all through life.
At night there are tears, but at dawn comes joy. R.

Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me;
be my helper, O Lord.
You have changed my mourning into dancing,
O Lord my God, I will thank you forever. R.

SECOND READING
“Your abundance should supply their want”.

A reading from the second Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 8:7.9.13-15)

Brethren: As you excel in everything — in faith, in utterance, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in your love for us — see that you excel in this gracious work also. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of equality your abundance at the present time should supply their want, so that their abundance may supply your want, that there may be equality. As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”

The word of the Lord.

ALLELUIA 2 Timothy 1: 10
Alleluia. Our Saviour Christ Jesus abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel. Alleluia.

GOSPEL
“Little girl, I say to you, arise.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 5:21-43)

*At that time: When Jesus had crossed in the boat to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, a great crowd gathered about him; and he was beside the sea. Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and seeing him, he fell at his feet, and begged him, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.” And he went with him.* And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him.

And there was a Woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. She had heard reports about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I shall be made well.” And immediately the haemorrhage ceased; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone forth from him, immediately turned about in the crowd, and said, “Who touched my garments?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?”’ And he looked around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had been done to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

While he was still speaking, * there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” But ignoring what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. When they came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, he saw a tumult, and people weeping and wailing loudly. And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why do you make a tumult and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi”; which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” And immediately the girl got up and walked; for she was twelve years old. And immediately they were overcome with amazement. And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

The Gospel of the Lord.*

The Creed (I Believe)

I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL

Christ, Giver of Life.

PRIEST: Jesus Christ, conqueror of sin and death, is the giver of life to all who believe in him. Let us pray to the Lord for his life-giving grace, for all the needs of our Church and world.

READER:
For the Church, (pause), just as the woman was healed by touching the hem of Jesus’ garments, so let the Church’s contact with the world heal it, in the name of the Saviour. Pause, Hear us, O Lord; and give us life we pray Oh Lord.

For peace and harmony in the world, (pause), let all governments unite in their efforts to put an end to the needless shedding of innocent blood, and seek a peaceful solution to all their problems. (pause) Hear us, O Lord; and give us life we pray Oh Lord.

For those who are dead through sin, (pause), let them make contact with Christ, who gives life to all, as truly as he did to the daughter of Jairus. (pause), Hear us, O Lord; and give us life we pray Oh Lord.

For greater works of charity in this community, (pause), let us give in love to those who are needy and so share the life of Christ, who gave himself for our sake. (pause) Hear us, O Lord; and give us life we pray Oh Lord.

We make our prayers in silence for our private petitions.

PRIEST: Father, giver of life, we make our prayers to you, confident that you will heal us of our sins, and help us live for you alone. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Today’s Reflection

A look at the two stories presented to us in the Gospel passage of today reveals to us that if we have not met Jesus, then we have not yet received our total healing. The woman with the flow of blood had spent all she had without a cure. Touching the fringe of Jesus’ garment healed her. Jairus also called on the Lord and his daughter was brought back to life. In both instances, true faith in Christ was demonstrated. The two stories also illustrate the healing power of Jesus. Medical science has indeed come a long way, but there is one whose power far exceeds that of science. Hence doctors can do their best in showing care, but it is ultimately Jesus who heals.

Saint of the Day

SAINT CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

As the patriarch of Alexandria, Cyril took part in the Council of Ephesus where the heresy of Nestorius was condemned. Nestorius held that in Jesus there were two persons, one divine and another human. The bishops who gathered for the Council declared Mary to be the Mother of God (Theotokos) and presented the true doctrine about Jesus. Cyril, a theologian and a good pastor, played a major role in the shaping of theology and Christian doctrine. He died in the year 444, at the age of seventy-four.

Personal Devotional

“Lord, hear my prayer! In your righteousness listen to my plea; answer me in your faithfulness! Don’t put me, your servant, on trial; no one is innocent in your sight” Psalm 143:1,2

Let Us Pray
Christ Jesus you hung upon a cross and died for us, so that we might live for you. Your body was broken and your blood shed, so that we might be healed and made whole. You were faithful unto death, so that we might be faithful unto life. Your last command was that we might love one another, one family together from every tribe and nation, a new creation united through your sacrifice. Redeemed by your blood, healed by your love, united by your covenant of peace. In your death may we find life in the name of Jesus. Amen