5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Job 7:1-4, 6-7

Job is not a very fun person to hang out with right now and we all know why.  Everything has been taken from him – family, friends and possessions.  Also, he is afflicted with sores on his body.  Things were going well until recently.  He had family and enough possessions to last him a few lifetimes, but the devil took away everything from him.  In today’s reading, Job is lamenting the loss of everything he holds dear.  Despite all his suffering, he does not curse God.  In another section of this book, Job says, “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away.  Blessed be the Lord.”  This is a statement of great faith in the midst of suffering and trial.

We also can experience difficulty and suffering.  Perhaps our health is compromised or a relationship went bad.  Perhaps we can pray with our sufferings and ask God’s help.  Are we thankful when all is well and when all is not so good?

1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23

Yo Yo Ma, the famous cellist, said once that if he doesn’t practice for 8 hours a day, he can sense that his skills have slipped and if he misses a full day of practice, the audience will notice that his skills have slipped.  You have to keep working to keep your skills sharp.  Paul has the same dedication.  “Woe to me if I do not preach it!”  He has to keep preaching the Gospel if he is to fulfill the call that Jesus gave to him.  The Gospel now is the driving force of his life and he must serve it always.

Is there a part of our lives which needs deeper dedication to the Gospel?  What is the driving force of our lives?  Jesus or something else?

Mark 1: 29-39

Today’s Gospel presents the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law.  It says that Jesus grasped her hand and “helped her up.”  Scholars say that this word is the same word that Mark will later use for “resurrection.”  Jesus resurrects Simon’s mother-in-law which predicts his own resurrection.  And what does she do after her “helping up?”  She begins to serve the others.  All of us are called to serve because of our resurrection to new life.  Later, the disciples report to Jesus, “Everyone is looking for you.”  It may have been true then but it is not so now.  Not all are looking for Jesus.  Perhaps you have family members and friends who are not in contact with their faith or with a church.   

How has Jesus helped us up to a new life?  Have we had resurrections in our own life?  Also, let’s pray for those who are looking for Jesus and those who are not.  May God touch their hearts and minds.

 I invite your comments.