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document.write('<h3>Scripture Reflection for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time<br>June 28, 2009</h3><p><strong><em>by <a target="_blank');
document.write('" href="http://www.parishwebmaster.com/services/authors/bio_bjubar.htm"><font color="#000000">Brandon Jubar</font></a></');
document.write('em></strong></p><h3> Reading I: <a target="new" href="http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/wisdom/wisdom1.htm#v13">Wisdom 1:');
document.write('13-15; 2:23-24</a><br>Reading II: <a target="new" href="http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/2corinthians/2corinthians8.htm#v7');
document.write('">2 Corinthians 8:7, 9, 13-15</a><br>GOSPEL: <a target="new" href="http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/mark/mark5.htm#v21">Ma');
document.write('rk 5:21-43</a><br></h3><h3>Fear Is Useless</h3><P>It is an unfortunate fact that our lives are quite often run by fe');
document.write('ar.  We try hard in school for fear of getting bad grades.  We drive the speed limit for fear of getting a ticket.  We d');
document.write('o what the boss tells us to do at work for fear of losing our jobs.  Our society uses fear in an attempt to keep people ');
document.write('in line; even resorting to the death penalty as punishment for certain crimes.  </P><P>All this fear, yet the gospel s');
document.write('hows us that fear is useless.  What\'s truly important is trust.  Students who get the best grades trust that the knowled');
document.write('ge they gain will allow them to do what the want in life.  People drive safely because they trust that the rules of the ');
document.write('road will help protect the lives of everyone.  Employees follow a good leader because they trust that what they\'re being');
document.write(' asked to do is best for the company.  And people abide by laws because they trust that others will do the same in order');
document.write(' to foster a safe, healthy society.  </P><h3>Live In Trust</h3><P>As a motivator, fear does not work.  Occasionally ');
document.write('it will motivate people in the short term, but it is unsustainable over the long haul.  But is there another means besid');
document.write('es fear?  Can we raise our children effectively without the constant threat of punishment if they misbehave?  Is there a');
document.write('nother way to foster world peace besides military might and the threat of retaliation?</P><P>As Christians, we are cal');
document.write('led to live differently.  Jesus calls us to live in trust -- to live in faith.  And this weekend\'s gospel shows clearly ');
document.write('how the way of trust can lead to life.  The woman who touches Jesus\' clothing in the crowd is not healed by Jesus.  Rath');
document.write('er, she has such complete trust in his ability that healing power simply flows out of him and into her.  It is her trust');
document.write(' -- her faith -- that heals her.</P><P>Likewise, Jesus tells the girl\'s relatives to trust in him and not fear that it');
document.write('\'s too late.  He doesn\'t say, "Your daughter will truly be dead if you don\'t have faith in me!"  Instead, Jesus simply s');
document.write('ays, "Do not be afraid; just have faith."  Then, out of death, Jesus calls the little girl to life.  In many ways, when ');
document.write('we stop being afraid and start trusting in Jesus, he will bring us to new life as well.</P><h3>Trust and Share</h3><');
document.write('P>Each of us should take the time to ponder the question:  "How does my own life show my trust in God?"  If I am cynical');
document.write(' and always assume that the worst will happen, am I exhibiting trust in the Spirit?  If I believe in my heart that thing');
document.write('s will never get better, am I displaying faith in Jesus?  Or am I trying to confidently follow God\'s will for me, knowin');
document.write('g that He will lead me to true happiness and ultimate fulfillment?</P><P>In the second reading from 2 Corinthians, Pau');
document.write('l suggests that we are rich.  But very few of us would classify ourselves as monetarily wealthy, so exactly <b>how</b> a');
document.write('re we rich?  Well, at the very least, we are spiritually rich through the favor shown us by Jesus Christ -- the one who ');
document.write('made himself poor "so that by his poverty [we] might become rich."  And at the end of it all, we trust that we will shar');
document.write('e the riches of his resurrection -- eternal life.</P><P>Yet even if we don\'t consider ourselves monetarily wealthy, mo');
document.write('st people reading this have been blessed materially in this world.  And the abundance we have should convince us to act ');
document.write('generously toward others.  We should share the wealth we have so that everyone can experience the generosity of God\'s cr');
document.write('eation.  And we can be generous in charity because we trust in God and have faith that he will always provide for us.  <');
document.write('/P><P>Fear doesn\'t motivate us to love one another, share our wealth, and strive to make the world a better place.  We');
document.write(' are able to look upon others with the compassion of Jesus, making it possible for them to share in the wealth of God\'s ');
document.write('goodness, because of trust.  Fear is useless.</P><hr><h3>Life Applications:</h3><P>What do you fear the most and why');
document.write('?<br>How do you demonstrate trust and faith in Jesus?<br>What has someone else done that has demonstrated trust and fait');
document.write('h in Jesus?</p><hr><P>Copyright 2006-2009 <strong><em>by <a target="_blank" href="http://www.parishwebmaster.com/servi');
document.write('ces/authors/bio_bjubar.htm"><font color="#000000">Brandon Jubar</font></a></em></strong><A HREF="http://www.ParishWebmas');
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