13th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Date: June 28, 2015

First Reading (Wisdom 1: 13–15 and 2: 23–24)
A reading from the book of Wisdom.
God did not make death, nor does he rejoice in the destruction of the living. Since he has created everything, all creatures of the universe are for our good; there is no deadly poison in them and the netherworld has no dominion over the earth, because immortal is not submitted to death. Indeed God created man to be immortal in the likeness of his own nature, but the envy of the devil brought death to the world, and those who take his side shall experience death.

Second Reading (2 Corinthians 8: 7, 9, and 13–15)
A reading from the second letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians.
Brothers and sisters: You excel in everything: in the gifts of faith, speech and knowledge; you feel concern for every cause and, besides, you are first in my heart. Excel also in this generous service. You know well the generosity of Christ Jesus, our Lord. Although he was rich, he made himself poor to make you rich through his poverty. I do not mean that others should be at ease and you burdened. Strive for equality; at present give from your abundance what they are short of, and in some way they also will give from their abundance what you lack. Then you will be equal and what Scripture states shall come true: To the one who had much, nothing was in excess; to the one who had little, nothing was lacking.

Gospel (Mark 5: 21–43)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark.
Jesus then 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 stated 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 stated 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 stated 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 stated 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 order them not to let anyone know about it, and told them to give her something to eat.

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Date: June 21, 2015

First Reading (Job 38: 1 and 8–11)
A reading from the book of Job.
Then the Lord answered Job out of the storm: Who shut the sea behind closed doors when it burst forth from the womb, when I made the clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling clothes; when I set its limits with doors and bars in place, when I stated, "You will not go beyond those bounds; here is where your proud waves must halt?"

Second Reading (2 Corinthians 5: 14–17)
A reading from the second letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians.
Brothers and sisters: Indeed the love of Christ holds us and we realize that if he died for all, all have died. He died for all so that those who live may live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and rose again for them. So from now on, we do not regard anyone from a human point of view; and even if we once knew Christ personally, we should now regard him in another way. For all that same reason, the one who is in Christ is a new creature. For him the old things have passed away; a new world has come.

Gospel (Mark 4: 35–41)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark.
On the same day when evening came, Jesus stated to his disciples, "Let us go across to the other side." So they left the crowd and took him away in the boat he had been sitting in, and other boats set out with him. Then a storm gather and it began to blow a gale. The furious waves spilled over the boat so that it was soon began to fill with water. Jesus was asleep in the stern, reclining on a soft cushion. The disciples woke Jesus up and exclaimed, "Master, do you not care if we sink?" As Jesus awoke, he rebuke the wind and ordered the sea, "Quiet now! Be still!" After those words, the furious wind dropped down and the furious waves vanished. All was calm, silent, and steady. Jesus stated to his disciples, "Why are you so frightened? Do you still have no faith?" The disciples were very terrified and astonished at the same time. They discussed with one another, "Who can this be? Even the wind and sea obey him!"

11th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Date: June 14, 2015

First Reading (Ezekiel 17: 22–24)
A reading from the book of the prophet Ezekiel.
Thus states the Lord: "At the top of cedar I will take one of its upper-most branches, a tender twig and plant it. On a lofty, massive mountain, on a high mountain of Israel I will plant it. It will produce branches and bear fruit and become a magnificent cedar. Birds of all kinds will nest in it and find shelter in its branches. And all the trees of the field shall know that I am the Lord, I who bring down the lofty tree and make the lowly tree tall. I will make the tree that is full of sap wither and the dry tree bloom. I, the Lord, have spoken and this will I do."

Second Reading (2 Corinthians 5: 6–10)
A reading from the second letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians.
Brothers and sisters: So we feel confident always. We know that while living in the body, we wander away from the Lord, living by faith, without seeing; but we dare to think that we would rather be away from the body to go and live with the Lord. So, whether we have to keep this house or lose it, we only wish to please the Lord. Anyway we all have to appear before the tribunal of Christ for each one to receive what he deserves for his good or evil deeds in the present life.

Gospel (Mark 4: 26–34)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark.
Jesus stated this to the crowd, "In the kingdom of God it is like this. A man scatters seed upon the soil. Whether he is asleep or awake, be it day or night, the seed sprouts and grows, he knows not how. The soil produces of itself; first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when it is ripe for harvesting they take the sickle for the cutting: the time for harvest has come." Jesus additionally stated, "What is the kingdom of God like? To what shall we compare it? It is like a mustard seed which, when sown, is the smallest of all the seeds scattered upon the soil. But once sown, it grows up and becomes the largest of the plants in the garden and even grows branches so big that the birds of the air can take shelter in its shade." Jesus used many such stories or parables, to proclaim the word to them in a way they would be able to understand. He would not teach them without parables; but privately to his disciples he explained everything.

The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi)

Date: June 7, 2015

First Reading (Exodus 24: 3–8)
A reading from the book of Exodus.
Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord and all his laws. The people replied in unison: "Everything that the Lord has commanded, we shall obey. Moses then wrote down all the words of the Lord, then rose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain with twelve raised stones for the twelve tribes of Israel. He then sent young men from among the sons of Israel to offer burnt offerings and sacrifice bullocks as peace offerings to the Lord. Moses took half the blood and placed it in basins; and with the other half of the blood, he sprinkled it on the altar. He then took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. They stated, "All that the Lord commanded, we shall do and obey." Moses then took the blood and sprinkled it on the people saying, "Here is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words."

Second Reading (Hebrews 9: 11–15)
A reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Hebrews.
Brothers and sisters: Now, Christ appeared as the high priest with regard to the good things of these new times. He passed through a sanctuary more noble and perfect, not made by hands, that is, not created. He did not take with himself the blood of goats and bulls but his own blood, when he entered once and for all into this sanctuary after obtaining definitive redemption. If the sprinkling of people defiled by sin with the blood of goats and bulls or with the ashes of a heifer provides them with exterior cleanness and holiness, how much more will it be with the blood of Christ? He, moved by the eternal Spirit, offered himself as an unblemished victim to God and his blood cleanses us from dead works, so that we may serve the living God. So Christ is the mediator of a new covenant or testament. His death made atonement for the sins committed under the old testament and the promise is handed over to all who are called to the everlasting inheritance.

Gospel (Mark 14: 12–16 and 22–26)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark.
On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the day when the Passover Lamb was killed, the disciples asked Jesus, "Where would you have us go to prepare the Passover meal for you?" So Jesus sent two his disciples with these instructions, "Go into the city and there a man will come to you carrying a jar of water. Follow him to the house he enters and say to the owner, 'The Master says: Where is the room where I may eat the Passover meal with my disciples?' Then he will show you a large room upstairs, already arranged and furnished. There you will prepare for us." The disciples departed. When they reached the city, they found everything just as Jesus had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal. While they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. He stated, "Take this, it is my body." Then he took a cup and after he had given thanks, he passed the cup to them and they all drank from it. He stated, "This is my blood, the blood of the Covenant, which is to be poured out for many. Truly, I say to you, I will not taste the fruit of the vine again until the day I drink the new wine in the kingdom of God." After singing psalms of praise, they went out to the Hill of Olives.