“He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!” The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around. [At that] they were utterly astounded.” (Mark 5:41-42) 
 
The theme for this Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time speaks of the gift of both physical and spiritual life that God has given us, desiring us to live fully in both bodily and spiritual health, to share and experience the divine life of God. The readings urge and challenge us to be grateful for our health in body and soul and to use God’s gifts of life and health responsibly for the greater glory of God. 
 
Some ancient Greek philosophers had a pessimistic view on human life because they had seen the negative side or the struggles that life presented to them and believed that human life was cheap or insignificant. 
 
Even Qoheleth, author of Ecclesiastes, looked at life and decided that “all things are vanity” and regarded human death as “the dust returning to the earth as once it was, and the life breath returning to God who gave it.” Death was thought to be the end of life and existence after death was a comfortless affair. 
 
However, under the enlightenment of divine grace, new realizations about life after death began to emerge and were reflected in the Sacred Scriptures. For example, the Book of Daniel expresses a hope for an ongoing and blessed existence after death. The book of Wisdom affirms that “God formed humankind to be imperishable,” which is the purpose of our salvation and redemption that God is continually saving us from the effect of sins and death. Therefore, our life’s purpose and value are to know, love and serve God and one another, to share God’s divine life forever to glorify God.
 
God does not want us holding a relationship of Transaction but Transformation. Therefore, how can we accept and promote God’s call to a healthy, wholesome and holy life, continuing Christ’s mission?
 
Wishing everyone a blessed week in the Lord.