Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

WHAT IF WE TOLD THE WHOLE TRUTH IN OUR PREACHING, OUR PRAYING, AND OUR SINGING? The truth that, in our society, those with status and power can come forward publicly to plead for help, while those without, especially those who have suffered greatly at the hands of the powerful, must grasp in secret at what little help they can get.

The truth that, like the disciples, we get impatient when some insignificant, unnamed person interrupts our very important work—and we’re surprised when Jesus stops everything to acknowledge that nameless one.

The truth that, when we are called out, it takes guts, courage, and faith—things we often don’t have—to come forward, to come clean, and speak our whole truth before a crowd that, if they knew our truth, would ostracize us.

The truth that Jesus cares little for societal norms, for those who tell him who or what he can or cannot touch, who or what he should or shouldn’t pay attention to, for power or status or lack of it, for a world that ridicules him when he doesn’t accept what they say is truth.

Instead of blood, the whole truth flowed from the now-healed woman. And from Jesus, from whom power flowed, bidden and unbidden, a new truth came forth from his lips: “Daughter,” no longer unnamed and unseen are you.

–Diana Macalintal

MYSTAGOGY MOMENT:

We are so in need of healing these days. We have been torn apart inside and out and we may feel we have no hope and nowhere to turn. The healing stories we have heard in today’s Gospel depict people who were without hope: Jairus, whose daughter was at the point of death, and the woman afflicted with hemorrhages. They had run out of hope, so where did they go? To Jesus. The touch of a hand and the touch of a garment serve as vessels for the healing power of Jesus. One of the collects for the liturgy of the Anointing of the Sick prays for “all who are oppressed by pain, distress or other afflictions.” We can meet Jesus in the Anointing of the Sick. This sacrament is not just for those who are gravely ill. Anyone who is suffering from any form of affliction can ask to receive this sacrament. The touch of a priest anointing you with holy oil can bring Jesus to you in a way that you may not have thought possible. It did for Jairus’s daughter and the woman. And by a touch, you could be healed.

– Victoria Zibell

Suggested Music

WLP Resource Suggestions

Choral Suggestions:

More choral suggestions for the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time…

Bendeciré Tu Nombre/I Will Praise Your Name: Salmo 145(144)  Diego Correa y Damaris Thillet. ¡Aclama, Tierra Entera! / Sing All You Lands! bilingual songbook  012637

El Señor Es Compasivo: Salmo 103(102) (bilingual), Peter Kolar. Cantor, unison choir, descants  012670

God Hears Me When I Pray  Cynthia Gowens Arr. Ken Louis. Unison choir or solo, assembly, guitar, keyboard  001249

I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say  Horatius Bonar & Michael Bogdan. Two-part mixed choir, keyboard  008810

I Know the Lord Laid His Hands on Me  Arr. Richard Kent. SATB a cappella, tenor solo  001080

I Trust in You  Lorraine Hess  Solo, Two-part choir, assembly, guitar  es08472

Nothing Is Impossible  Michael Dryver Two-part children’s choir, solo, keyboard  007105

Pan del Cielo/Bread of Heaven Eleazar Cortés, arr. J. Honoré & P. Kolar. Two-part choir, cantor, assembly, optional marimba, guitar, keyboard  012643

To the Poor, a Lasting Treasure  Francis Patrick O’Brien  SATB, assembly, piano, guitar, opt. C instrument, string quartet G-4523

Touch Jesus  W. Clifford Petty. SAT or three-part choir, solo, assembly, guitar, keyboard  001258