Mass Readings for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B
- First Reading – Wisdom 1:13-15; 2:23-24: “God did not make death, nor does he rejoice in the destruction of the living.”
- Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 30: “I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.”
- Second Reading – 2 Corinthians 8:7, 9, 13-15: “For you know the gracious act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.”
- Gospel – Mark 5:21-43: “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.”
Themes for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B
The readings for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B show us that God wants nothing but life and goodness for us, if only we will let Him rescue us. The first reading explains that God desires life for us, not death. The second reading tells us that God desires abundance for all of his children. And in the gospel,Jesus brings a young girl back to life and heals a woman who has been suffering for years.
- The need to be healed
- Gratitude
- Jesus rescues us
See the Homilies and Reflections section and the More Thoughts section for further expansion on these readings and some reflection questions for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B.
Resources for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B
Make a Gratitude List Every Day and Pray with It
Gratitude can be one of the most fruitful forms of prayer. When we specifically notice things to be grateful for, we become aware of and acknowledge God’s constant presence in our lives.
Prayer to God My Hope in Time of Fear
This is a prayer based on Psalm 30, which is the responsorial psalm for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B. Sometimes we are overcome by fear. We think we can handle it ourselves. But eventually we find that we need God’s grace. And when we turn to Him, he does not disappoint.
Rescue Me! – Discussion and Reflection Questions
This reflection encourages youth to consider that Jesus never promised us a life free from hardship. But he doesn’t expect us to try to survive on our own. He wants to help us.
How Good Are Your Survival Skills? Youth Group Game
This game asks teens to consider how long they could survive in the case of a disaster. Use it as a lead in to a meeting about how we cannot survive without the help of Jesus.
Homilies and Reflections for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B
Faith When You’re Frustrated with God
From Bishop Robert Barron. In our Gospel today, we find two stories tensely intertwined—and both contain great suffering and great healing. Through this passage, we are reminded that even in the midst of confusion and frustration with God, we are called to trust in the Lord and his timing.
No Human Is Merely Mortal
In this week’s Encountering the Word video for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, Jeff Cavins reflects upon the eternal aspects of our existence and that we are all creations of God.
Arise!
From Scott Hahn. God, who formed us in His imperishable image, did not intend for us to die, we hear in today’s First Reading. Death entered the world through the devil’s envy and Adam and Eve’s sin; as a result, we are all bound to die.
God Did Not Make Death
Also from Bishop Barron. The Book of Wisdom offers us the strange assertion that God did not make death, for he formed humanity to be imperishable. This revelation directs us towards the truth that death is much more than merely the dissolution of the body; it is the full impact of the power of sin over our lives.
More Thoughts for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B
As is typical in the Gospel of Mark, a longer story is “interrupted” by a shorter, related story. In today’s gospel, we find the story of the woman with the blood disorder inserted into the middle of the story of the resurrection of Jarius’ daughter.
These two miracles have similarities and differences. The woman with the hemorrhages is cured immediately. On the other hand, it takes some time for Jesus to reach the young girl. By the time he arrives, she has died. But he restores her to life. Both are healed through faith. The woman is healed through her own faith, the girl through the faith of her parents.
Both healings involve physical touch. But the woman with the blood disorder initiates her own healing, boldly reaching out to come into contact with Jesus’ garment. With the girl, Jesus reaches out to touch her.
These stories indicate the power of Jesus. They also show us that everyone’s encounter with the Lord can include similarities and differences. But faith is important in all cases. When we face challenges in life we must believe that the Lord is with us.
Reflection Questions for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B
- When have I experienced the Lord’s healing power in my life?
- Where does my faith fit in when I am facing a difficult situation?
- How can we help each other grow in faith?
Quotes and Social Media Graphics for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B
I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
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