Proper 8 Year B
Generous Acts

Today’s liturgy directs our attention to God’s care for the poor and less fortunate. In the Gospel reading we hear the account of Jesus’ raising the young daughter of the Jewish official, Jairus. Mark inserts within this story the healing of a woman who had suffered hemorrhages for twelve years. The girl and the woman, by the custom of their times, were both regarded as of little value. But Jesus’ compassion extends to them as it does to all people.

For II Samuel: In the first reading, Saul has died after losing a battle. With him fell his son, Jonathan, who had, in spite of Saul’s hatred for David, become David’s dearest friend. David defeats the enemy and then sings the song we hear today praising the heroism of Saul and Jonathan, and in one of the most deeply moving passages in scripture, grieves the death of his dear friend.

For Lamentations: In the first reading, from Lamentations, we are assured that whatever ill befalls us, God’s love for we will never fails. God, we are told, does not willingly afflict or grieve anyone.

For Wisdom of Solomon: In the Wisdom of Solomon we learn that death has no part in God, nor does it belong in this world. We are in God’s image and intended for a righteous and eternal existence.

Paul calls on the Corinthians to emulate the generosity of other churches in giving to a collection to aid less fortunate Christians. Jesus, Paul reminds us, became poor for us so that we might become rich; that is, he became human so that our humanity might be raised into the life of God. Thus, for the sake of others, we follow Jesus’ example and share our own material goods.

We gather in Eucharist as the People of God, called to be the means by which God makes known the divine compassion for all people. It is the poor and neglected in society for whom God is especially concerned as Jesus demonstrated in healing the sick. We are called and given to the world to minister in God’s name.