First reading Genesis 1:1-19
God saw that it was good
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was a formless void, there was darkness over the deep, and God’s spirit hovered over the water.
God said, ‘Let there be light’, and there was light. God saw that light was good, and God divided light from darkness. God called light ‘day’, and darkness he called ‘night.’ Evening came and morning came: the first day.
God said, ‘Let there be a vault in the waters to divide the waters in two.’ And so it was. God made the vault, and it divided the waters above the vault from the waters under the vault. God called the vault ‘heaven.’ Evening came and morning came: the second day.
God said, ‘Let the waters under heaven come together into a single mass, and let dry land appear.’ And so it was. God called the dry land ‘earth’ and the mass of waters ‘seas’, and God saw that it was good.
God said, ‘Let the earth produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants, and fruit trees bearing fruit with their seed inside, on the earth.’ And so it was. The earth produced vegetation: plants bearing seed in their several kinds, and trees bearing fruit with their seed inside in their several kinds. God saw that it was good. Evening came and morning came: the third day.
God said, ‘Let there be lights in the vault of heaven to divide day from night, and let them indicate festivals, days and years. Let them be lights in the vault of heaven to shine on the earth.’ And so it was. God made the two great lights: the greater light to govern the day, the smaller light to govern the night, and the stars. God set them in the vault of heaven to shine on the earth, to govern the day and the night and to divide light from darkness. God saw that it was good. Evening came and morning came: the fourth day.
Responsorial Psalm 103(104):1-2,5-6,10,12,24,35
May the Lord be glad in his works.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
O Lord, my God, you are great indeed!
You are clothed with majesty and glory,
robed in light as with a cloak.
May the Lord be glad in his works.
You fixed the earth upon its foundation,
not to be moved forever;
With the ocean, as with a garment, you covered it;
above the mountains the waters stood.
May the Lord be glad in his works.
You send forth springs into the watercourses
that wind among the mountains.
Beside them the birds of heaven dwell;
from among the branches they send forth their song.
May the Lord be glad in his works.
How manifold are your works, O Lord!
In wisdom you have wrought them all—
the earth is full of your creatures;
Bless the Lord, O my soul! Alleluia.
May the Lord be glad in his works.
Gospel Mark 6:53-56
All those who touched him were cured
Having made the crossing, Jesus and his disciples came to land at Gennesaret and tied up. No sooner had they stepped out of the boat than people recognised him, and started hurrying all through the countryside and brought the sick on stretchers to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went, to village, or town, or farm, they laid down the sick in the open spaces, begging him to let them touch even the fringe of his cloak. And all those who touched him were cured.
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Receiving peace and hope
In Jesus’ time, there were many sick people, and very few of them had the means to procure a cure. Jesus was known as a prophet, a holy man to whom the crowds would go, hoping to be touched by him and be healed.
Today, when we are ill, we go to the doctors and follow their prescriptions to be healed. However, sick individuals not only need medicines and treatments; they are also in need of inner peace and hope. These are the “medicines” that only Jesus can provide for our inner healing. In our vulnerable moments, He comes to us with His gentle touch- sometimes with His words, sometimes in silence – allowing us to rest in Him. He assures us that we are not alone in our pain and suffering but rather, He is living with us those difficult moments.
Reflective question:
Do I allow Jesus to touch me in my sickness and vulnerable moments?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year C” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD.
