Walking with Jesus: Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

For Sunday, February 4, 2024 

Job 7:1-4, 6-7; 1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23; Mark 1:29-39

I like to offer people a snapshot on how to focus one’s prayer life when not feeling very holy … and/or feeling very “dumped upon” … and/or feeling alone, not listened to, even not respected … and/or acting grudgingly with resentment. I make this suggestion: to be still and ask three important questions:

• How do I feel right now?
• What do I need from God for me right now?
• What do I need from me for myself right now?

I’m not suggesting that we leave it all to God or let go and let life continue, or to suggest that I have all the answers within me. NO … but all of the above are a good start in realizing God’s closeness and willingness to help me ... because He loves me right now in what’s troubling me. He strengthens, guides and loves me, and needs me to love me and Him NOW.

Today’s readings present us with a snapshot computer storage of life — showing us three interconnected dimensions of human existence: the harshness of life, Jesus reliving the traumas and bringing Himself into the situation, and Paul preaching Jesus’ message of salvation to all who seek and believe in Him.

Job is the prime example of a troubled life. Consistent suffering comes his way. Is Satan at fault? Yes, but no more than the feeling we can have “now” that we're being totally dumped on and drowning in hopelessness. These moments take such a hold on us that the wonderful beauty experienced in the past gobbles up the dreams of better days. The hope of better days is out of sight and out of mind. At times like these, pain … suffering ... colors our moodiness. Job describes the misery of his own life: His days are filled with hardship; his nights loaded with tears and sorrow. He is restless — there seems to be nowhere he can turn. He cries out — we’ve done the same — maybe we’ve cried out God, “Where are You?” This is very important: Nowhere does scripture require that we refrain from complaining. Look at the Psalms — especially Psalm 51: “Have mercy on me, God, in Your goodness, in Your abundant compassion, blot out my offense … wash away all my guilt … I know my transgressions, my sin is always before me.” And Psalm 60: “O God, You rejected us, broke our defenses; you were angry but now revive us … You made Your people go through hardship … help with Your right hand and answer us that Your loved ones may escape.”

Psalm Response 147 opens with a positive summons to praise the Lord, appearing in the plural: We all are to lift up our voices. Several reasons are given: examples of God’s goodness … He gathers the people after they have been dispersed … He rebuilds the city of Jerusalem after it has been destroyed. It is a Second Chance at being God’s chosen people … and He promises a “new covenant … new heart … new spirit.” AND most importantly, God’s kindness is so great because it is shown to a sinful people — not one of whom has remained faithful.

Paul feels obligated that he has to preach the Good News, that God loves each of us equally and Jesus has promised a place for us in heaven with Him. Paul insists that He wants to preach God’s love. This liberates him to exercise his freedom to meet people where they are, so that they can encounter the gospel in their own time and in their own way. But if I remain silent, how can they experience that God loves me and them?

Mark gives concrete examples of Jesus’ love: He is preaching in the synagogue in Capernaum and immediately leaves upon hearing of Peter’s mother being sick. Jesus touches her and enables her to minister to them. Then Jesus heals all who come to Peter’s house. Then, early in the morning, He goes off to a deserted place and prays. Peter interrupts him and tells Him “everyone wants to see You.” So Jesus went, healed and loved.

So I reflect on:

• Who are the sick? We are. Who heals us? Jesus does — AND sends us to heal, touch, love.
• Why does Jesus help us? So that we can serve Him and serve His people.
• Who are His people? We are — especially those of us who are poor, sick and downtrodden.

Sacred Space 2024 states:

“There was a sense of immediacy in the action of Jesus in this situation. Lord, help us to understand better the difference between the immediate and the urgency so that we might make good decisions in the service of Your people.

“Jesus attracted the whole city who came to the door. He cured many and then we are told, “He would not permit the demons to speak because they knew Him.’’ Lord, we need Your healing but we want to know You as Lord with deeper faith so that we can make You known to others as Messiah.”