Understanding the Word

By Br. John R. Barker, OFM

In the book of Wisdom we see the fruit of centuries of reflection  on the meaning of the first chapters of Genesis. Wisdom insists that  in God’s original plan humans were immortal; this is, at least in  part, what it means to say that they were created in God’s image  (Genesis 1:27). It was only because of the machinations of the snake,  now identified as the devil, that humans experience death. But this is  certainly not what God, who is resolutely opposed to death, wants  for humans. The larger point of the Wisdom passage is to warn  people to be faithful to God and thus not to “court death by your  erring way of life” (1:12). 

In his letter the Corinthians, Paul now turns to his collection for  the Christians in Jerusalem. He challenges them—who “excel in  every respect”—to excel in giving also. Here they should look to the  example of Christ, from whose generosity they have been enriched.  One way to show their gratitude is to share other forms of “riches”  with the struggling church in Jerusalem. He seals this appeal with  a reference to Exodus (16:18), which refers to the distribution of  manna in the wilderness. The point is clear: any abundance the  Corinthians enjoy is a gift from God, which is meant to be shared  equally by all of God’s people. 

In both stories of the longer form of the Lectionary reading, the  role of faith—trust in Jesus’ will and ability to save—is central. The  woman believes quite simply that if she touches Jesus’ clothes, that  will be enough to cure her. Jairus approaches Jesus with absolute  confidence that by laying his hands on his daughter, Jesus will save  her from death. Most notable about both of them is the fact that  neither hesitates or hedges. Neither says, “If you can,” or “If he will,”  or gives any other expression that would serve to prepare prepare  them to be disappointed if Jesus refuses or somehow fails to save.

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