June 30, 2024 – 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Things to talk about:

In today’s Gospel story, when Jesus was in the crowd, many people bumped into him, but only one person touched him in faith.

• What was the difference between how the crowd encountered Christ and how the woman encountered him?
• What would it have been like to witness Jesus raising a twelve-year-old girl from the dead?
• Why do you think Jesus healed Jairus’ daughter?
• Does God still heal today?

Things to do:

• Take time to pray for the people you know who are experiencing illness or suffering this week.
• As a family, make cards for a member of your family, friend, or neighbor who is preparing for surgery, ill, or homebound.
• This week we celebrate the 4th of July, Independence Day. As we celebrate the freedoms we enjoy, take some time to learn about American Saints. Read their stories together and talk about how their lives can inspire you.
• Pray for our country by singing God Bless America.

Closing Prayer

Prayer for the Sick by St. Augustine of Canterbury

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Watch, O Lord, with those who wake, or watch, or weep tonight,

and give your angels charge over those who sleep.

Tend your sick ones, O Lord Christ.

Rest your weary ones. Bless your dying ones.

Soothe your suffering ones. Pity your afflicted ones. Shield your joyous ones.

Amen

Catholic Insights

In today’s gospel, we hear of two healings. One story is of a loving father whose child is ill and suffering. The other is of a woman who is desperate for healing. Both sought Jesus out for healing, believing that Jesus would heal them. While both sought the same thing, their stories could not be more different. The father was a public official who was respected in the community. The woman was an outcast because of her condition that caused her to bleed. Despite their differences, Jesus responds to both in the same way, in healing.

Jesus often used touch to heal in the gospel stories. In the Sacrament of the Sick, Jesus reaches out to touch the sick through the priest. We can receive this sacrament to strengthen us during sickness and if we are preparing for surgical procedures (CCC 1514, CCC 1515). This sacrament can be received as often as we need it. Through this Sacrament, we experience the same touch of Christ that he extended to those he healed in the gospel.

As lay people, we too are called to heal the sick. We are not able to minister the sacrament, but we can be a source of healing for those who are sick. When we visit them, pray for them, and help them in any way that lifts their spirits or increases their faith. Visiting the sick is one of the Corporal Works of Mercy (CCC 2447) which are charitable actions that we do to help others in their time of need.

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