Sunday, February 04, 2024
The Church put a dejected Job in today’s Lectionary as today’s Old Testament reading. We read local, national, and international news and can empathize with people whose lives are entrenched in anguish and despair. We may even see despair among our circle of family and friends. Perhaps we too feel this despair sometimes. Maybe we had a moment similar to Job’s when we felt hopeless and our eyes would not see happiness again. Even Jesus felt anguish and despair when he cried out on the cross, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” God knows our trials and tribulations and is always there in our midst, even during our darkest moments. But don’t stop reading after the Old Testament for the Psalm, New Testament, and Gospel readings will remind us of our hope in Jesus and the resurrection. Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted.
In last week’s readings, we heard about Jesus the Teacher who astonished the people with His teachings. This week we hear about Jesus the Healer. Saint Mark in today’s Gospel tells us about God’s mercy and how Jesus cured the sick. “The whole town was gathered at the door.” And, Simon said to Jesus “Everyone is looking for you.” (Mark 1: 33 and 37). The people saw Jesus as the light that would take them out of their darkness. He is the hope for people living in anguish and despair. A few days before this past Christmas, my daughter tested positive for COVID. Although she is in her late 20s, not a young child, and her symptoms were mild, she still felt terrible for missing family and friends’ gatherings and celebrations as she quarantined alone waiting for a negative test. I know the feeling, two years ago I felt that loneliness when I got COVID around Thanksgiving time and also missed family time. Being sick is oftentimes accompanied by loneliness, hopelessness, and despair. When Jesus cured Simon’s Mother-in-Law while he visited the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John, she immediately began waiting on them. When Jesus cures the sick, they become whole again as their family and community roles and relationships are restored.
Today we read about Jesus traveling to nearby villages, preaching in the synagogue, healing the sick, and going to a deserted place to pray. Someone described today’s Gospel reading as “A day in the life of Jesus.” That is how we should model our days proclaiming the word of God, answering the calls of the needy, and making time for prayer and reflection.
We pray for healing for the physical and spiritual ailments that keep us from living our lives fully and fruitfully. We pray to become more like Jesus, listen with an open heart to what God calls us to do, and follow where He leads us. And we remember in our prayer those around us who are in need of God’s healing.
Go in Peace to Love and Serve the Lord.