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Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time — June 30, 2024

Bishop’s Reflections

June 30, 2024

Every Sunday, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Click HERE for the readings.

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time — June 30, 2024

Sometimes when a person close to us dies we will hear a few of our friends try to comfort us by saying, “It must have been God’s will” Yet, the First Reading today begins with these words: “God did not make death, nor does he rejoice in the destruction of the living.”

In fact, it was the sin of Adam and Eve that ushered in the reality of death. Jesus was sent to save us from two things: sin and death. How can God will something that he wants to save us from?

Death was the consequence of Adam and Eve’s rebellion. It was a rejection of God’s plan for us. Jesus came to restore God’s plan so that we might live with him forever in happiness.

We see this reality foreshadowed in today’s Gospel: the ministry of Jesus confronts the death of a child. A synagogue official comes to Jesus and says, “My daughter is at the point of death. Please come and lay your hands on her that she may get well and live.” Jesus begins to go to the official’s home, when people arrive to tell the official, “Your daughter has died; why trouble (Jesus) any longer.”

But Jesus persists and goes to the child’s home. He takes the child by the hand and says to her, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!” The girl gets up and begins to walk around and takes something to eat.

That is the model for all of us who believe. Death will be turned to life. That is what God wills for us.

Rather than saying that God willed the death of any person, it might be more accurate to say that God wills that person to live.

In the Nicene Creed we profess it best: “I believe in the life of the world to come.” This is what God wants for all of us.

Have a blessed week everyone.

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