13th Sunday of Year: Collect

COLLECT SERIES

 

The Mass: Collect Series Icon.

COLLECT

The Collect for the 13th Sunday of Year B reads as follows:

O God, who through the grace of adoption

chose us to be children of light

Grant we pray,

that we may not be wrapped in the darkness of error.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

In making this Collect tangible for our lives this coming week, the following reflection questions emerged:

1. What does it mean to me to be a child of God?

2. What is the grace of adoption?

3. What does it mean for me to a child of light?  

4. How will being a child of light be evident in my life this week?

5. Think of a present before it is opened. It may please the receiver with its pretty paper and bow. However, inside the gift itself is wrapped (covered) and as such is in the dark.  

How is my gift of myself right now?

6. What areas of darkness of error do I tend to fall into regularly. What will I do about it/them?

7. Receiving the sacrament of Reconciliation restores us to a child of light.  Why not use the sacrament this coming week. Be a child of light this week.

 GOSPEL REFLECTION

The Gospel from Mark chapter 5 has a lot to offer us.  Why not read this post.

However the key to both stories which Mark weaves in so well is ultimately of faith- faith in the face of adversity.  In relation to the woman who suffered the haemorrhage for 12 years, Mark tells us that her condition was getting worse and she had spent all she had trying different treatments. She told herself that if she could just touch his hem of his cloak, she would be healed.  She was brave because with her condition at that time, blood was a sacred thing- life giving and only meant for the temple.  She was not only putting herself at risk of exclusion but also Jesus.

We can relate to the hope-disappointment and desperation cycle of this woman.  Anyone who has a condition which has no known cure is willing to try something new and with that comes hope. Then the treatment/cream or tablets after some time of diligence on our part does not make the condition any better, perhaps slightly, but definitely not the cure we hoped. Here comes the disappointment.

Rounds and Rounds of this leads to desperation.  This woman had a haemorrhage for 12 years. If you were in her shoes, would you have risked everything for that final hope of healing through Jesus?

The other question of thought that I would like to consider as we hear this gospel is for us to consider what our illness is.  It may not be physical but it may be mental/emotional or spiritual.  Why not write a list of areas in your life that need urgent attention?   Are you willing to risk everything to take this list to Jesus and reach out for healing- will you touch His hem of His garment this week?
None of us are perfect and as the Collect says wrapped in error.

We may not be able to physically touch His garment but Jesus, through the Sacrament of Reconciliation gives us that opportunity to reach out in faith and be healed.  In this sacrament we are no longer wrapped in error but become clothed as children of light.
If you have not received the sacrament for a long time, do not worry or be anxious. Tell the priest your circumstances, make an appointment so you do not feel worried that you are taking too long and others may be waiting.  Reach out to Jesus and touch His hem this week.

If you receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation regularly, then keep receiving it. It builds up grace within us and helps us to be a child of light.  When temptations come, those same sins/faults etc that keep coming up, we are able to keep working on them, whilst acknowledging the grace that Jesus gives us.  Have you ever noticed that a particular fault/sin becomes less... perhaps it is a sharp word withheld that would have previously been said. It is in that moment that you realise the grace of the sacrament working in you.  Thank God for it.  You have touched His hem in that moment.

Walk as a child of light this week and let that light shine