Lectionary 13, Year B
Proper 8 The Sunday between June 26 and July 2 Revised Common Lectionary, Year B, the year of Mark Green
Next read on .
The Gospel: Mark 5:21–43
On his way to heal Jairus’s dying daughter, Jesus heals a woman who touches his clothes, then takes the girl by the hand and raises her.
What is going on
A synagogue leader named Jairus begs Jesus to come and heal his twelve-year-old daughter, who is dying. Jesus goes with him, and the crowd presses around them.
On the way, a woman who has been bleeding for twelve years, and has spent everything on doctors, touches his clothes and is healed. Jesus stops to find her, and calls her daughter.
Then word comes that Jairus’s daughter has died. Jesus tells him not to fear, only believe, goes into the house, takes the girl by the hand, and tells her to get up, and she does.
Mark 5:21-43
Most churches stand for the Gospel, and sing or say a short response before and after it.
The passage
21 When Jesus had crossed back over in the boat to the other side, a great multitude was gathered to him; and he was by the sea. 22 Behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, came; and seeing him, he fell at his feet, 23 and begged him much, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Please come and lay your hands on her, that she may be made healthy, and live.” 24 He went with him, and a great multitude followed him, and they pressed upon him on all sides. 25 A certain woman, who had a discharge of blood for twelve years, 26 and had suffered many things by many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better, but rather grew worse, 27 having heard the things concerning Jesus, came up behind him in the crowd, and touched his clothes. 28 For she said, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be made well.” 29 Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. 30 Immediately Jesus, perceiving in himself that the power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd, and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” 31 His disciples said to him, “You see the multitude pressing against you, and you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 32 He looked around to see her who had done this thing. 33 But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had been done to her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be cured of your disease.” 35 While he was still speaking, people came from the synagogue ruler’s house saying, “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the Teacher any more?” 36 But Jesus, when he heard the message spoken, immediately said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Don’t be afraid, only believe.” 37 He allowed no one to follow him, except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. 38 He came to the synagogue ruler’s house, and he saw an uproar, weeping, and great wailing. 39 When he had entered in, he said to them, “Why do you make an uproar and weep? The child is not dead, but is asleep.” 40 They ridiculed him. But he, having put them all out, took the father of the child, her mother, and those who were with him, and went in where the child was lying. 41 Taking the child by the hand, he said to her, “Talitha cumi!” which means, being interpreted, “Girl, I tell you, get up!” 42 Immediately the girl rose up and walked, for she was twelve years old. They were amazed with great amazement. 43 He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and commanded that something should be given to her to eat.
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
The other readings
In the order they are read on Sunday, before the Gospel.
Wisdom of Solomon 1:13-15; 2:23-24 or Lamentations 3:22-33
The writer of Lamentations declares that the LORD’s mercies are new every morning, and that the Lord will not reject anyone forever.
Read it here
The text appointed for this first reading isn’t in our library in this translation. Shown here is the Revised Common Lectionary’s own alternate: Lamentations.
22 It is because of the LORD’s loving kindnesses that we are not consumed, because his compassion doesn’t fail. 23 They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness. 24 “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul. “Therefore I will hope in him.” 25 The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. 26 It is good that a man should hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. 27 It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. 28 Let him sit alone and keep silence, because he has laid it on him. 29 Let him put his mouth in the dust, if it is so that there may be hope. 30 Let him give his cheek to him who strikes him. Let him be filled full of reproach. 31 For the Lord will not cast off forever. 32 For though he causes grief, yet he will have compassion according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses. 33 For he does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men.
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
Psalm 30
A song of thanks from one healed and lifted from the grave, whose mourning God turned into dancing.
Read it here
1 I will extol you, O LORD, for you have raised me up, and have not made my foes to rejoice over me. 2 The LORD my God, I cried to you, and you have healed me. 3 O LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol. You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. 4 Sing praise to the LORD, you saints of his. Give thanks to his holy name. 5 For his anger is but for a moment. His favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may stay for the night, but joy comes in the morning. 6 As for me, I said in my prosperity, “I shall never be moved.” 7 You, O LORD, when you favored me, made my mountain stand strong; but when you hid your face, I was troubled. 8 I cried to you, the LORD. I made supplication to the Lord: 9 “What profit is there in my destruction, if I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise you? Shall it declare your truth? 10 Hear, O LORD, and have mercy on me. O LORD, be my helper.” 11 You have turned my mourning into dancing for me. You have removed my sackcloth, and clothed me with gladness, 12 to the end that my heart may sing praise to you, and not be silent. The LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever!
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
2 Corinthians 8:7-15
Paul urges the Corinthians to finish their gift for others in need, following Christ, who became poor so that they could become rich.
Read it here
7 But as you abound in everything, in faith, utterance, knowledge, all earnestness, and in your love to us, see that you also abound in this grace. 8 I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich. 10 I give a judgment in this: for this is expedient for you who were the first to start a year ago, not only to do, but also to be willing. 11 But now complete the doing also, that as there was the readiness to be willing, so there may be the completion also out of your ability. 12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you don’t have. 13 For this is not that others may be eased and you distressed, 14 but for equality. Your abundance at this present time supplies their lack, that their abundance also may become a supply for your lack; that there may be equality. 15 As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
Some congregations follow the RCL’s other track this Sunday, which reads an Old Testament book straight through over several weeks: 2 Samuel 1:1, 17–27 and Psalm 130 in place of the first reading and psalm above.
A question to carry into the week
Jesus stopped for someone the crowd had overlooked. Who might be waiting for someone to stop for them?
For your newsletter or sermon notes
This reading is told as a story on our sister site, Free Scripture, one scene at a time in plain words. The lines below are ready to paste. The next eight Sundays, and every story.
Lectionary 13 (Proper 8) · Revised Common Lectionary, Year B · the same Sunday at the Vanderbilt Divinity Library. Scripture text: World English Bible, public domain.
Revised Common Lectionary copyright © 1992 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org Used by permission.