document.write('

Subscribe to LifeTimes Catholic eZine

'); document.write('

Scripture Reflection for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time
June 28, 2009

by Brandon Jubar

Reading I: Wisdom 1:'); document.write('13-15; 2:23-24
Reading II: 2 Corinthians 8:7, 9, 13-15
GOSPEL: Ma'); document.write('rk 5:21-43

Fear Is Useless

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.

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.

Live In Trust

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?

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.

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.

Trust and Share

<'); 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?

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 how 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.

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>

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.


Life Applications:

What do you fear the most and why'); document.write('?
How do you demonstrate trust and faith in Jesus?
What has someone else done that has demonstrated trust and fait'); document.write('h in Jesus?


Copyright 2006-2009 by Brandon Jubar
All rights reserved.


');