13th Sunday of Ordinary Time
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 The Church and Human Dignity
This week the news has inundated us with the deaths of celebrities. We’ve grown up with Michael Jackson and undoubtedly his impact has overshadowed that of Farrah Fawcett. Farrah Fawcett defied the expectations of many in the industry. Her life story had been one of overcoming the expectations that tried to limit her as nothing more than a pretty face. Despite her questionable career moves, her stormy relationships, and despite the cancer that ultimately claimed her, her friends knew her as a woman of faith and courage who would not allow society to treat her as less than who she was. The news reported that she had received the “last rites” before her death. In the end, her faith helped her hang onto her human dignity.
In our Gospel, we hear two stories of healing; the woman who suffered from hemorrhages for many years, and the daughter of Jairus. The resurrection of Jairus’ daughter seems more spectacular and so it would be easier to overlook the woman. Indeed, the shorter version of our gospel excludes the woman. This woman was overlooked if not shunned by her people. She felt the consequences of her stigma – of being treated as a second-class citizen of being a woman, of being poor, and of being ritually unclean. For this reason she felt unworthy to approach Jesus – yet her faith gave her enough courage to be able to touch even only his clothes. Her faith helped her to fight for her healing, and ultimately for her human dignity.
Jesus was overwhelmed by the crowds pressing upon him and had to focus on answering the pleas of Jairus, the synagogue official and thus an important person. It would have been understandable for him to overlook (or ignore) this woman. That she was immediately healed was as much a shock for Jesus as it was for her, for it opened his eyes to see what he had overlooked, or perhaps ignored due to prejudice, preference, or the thinking of his society. With the flow of power going to the woman, he recognized that faith has no boundaries, that salvation and healing are available to all in need so that human dignity may be restored.
Throughout this week President Obama had been fighting for healthcare reforms. Our U.S. Bishops have, for some time, been very vocal advocates of a comprehensive reform. They have stated, “In a nation with the resources we have, health care should be such that all our citizens receive the kind of health care that provides for the needs of all in a coherent and consistent way.” They describe it a “travesty and tragedy” – from a Catholic Social Justice perspective, that health care to millions of Americans is unavailable. They teach us that fundamentally, health care involves issues of human life and dignity – a critical component of our Church’s ministry.
Such reform may seem extremely difficult to obtain as long as our nation prescribes to health care based on profits that ultimately ignore if not debase human worth and dignity. What weapons do those who cannot afford such care possess if not their faith, and our Church that picks up the pieces of a failing health care system? Our Gospel teaches us to cherish all life, to not ignore nor overlook anyone – poor or rich, for all are in need of redemption, of recognizing their self-worth, and their human dignity cherished by God.
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Tithes & Offerings
Third Sunday of Lent
Regular Collection: $7,547.50
THANK YOU!
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Church Location
St Jane Frances de Chantal
13001 Victory Blvd.
North Hollywood, CA
91606
Parish Center/ Office
12930 Hamlin St.
North Hollywood, CA
91606
(818) 985-8600
Office Hours
Mon. - Fri. 9:00AM 12:00 PM
1:30PM - 6:30 PM
Saturday 9:00AM - 12:00 PM
Weekday Mass Schedule
Mon. Fri. Sat. 8:00 AM Mass
Wed. 6:30 PM Mass
Weekend Mass Schedule
Saturday 5:00 PM
Sunday 7:30 AM Spanish
9:00 AM English
11:00 AM English
1:00 PM Spanish
6:00 PM English
Confessions:
Saturdays @ 12:00 PM
or by appointment.
Visit our school website by selecting the link below:
www.sjfdechantalschool.org
Pastor: Rev. Ferdinand Lansang O. Carm
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