5th Sunday in Ordinary Time-B
I
Reading: Job 7: 1-4.6-7: Restlessly fret till twilight falls.
II
Reading: 1 Corinthians 9:16-19.20-23: I should be punished if did not preach the
Gospel.
Gospel: Mark 1:29-39: He cured many who were suffering from diseases
of one kind or another.
With
the spread of scientific developments, new discoveries, and good education;
one may ask to himself or herself; why should man/woman have to suffer, get
sick, and die? What is the true meaning of suffering in life? We get this answer
in today’s first reading taken from the Book of Job.
In
the second reading, Paul has been defending his apostolic position to some who
may have doubted it. As God’s slave, he is under compulsion to preach the
Gospel without personal reward to serve them for nothing. His reward lies in
the blessings of the Gospel.
The
Gospel talks about how the ministry of healing continues to demonstrate the power
of our Lord amid the needs of a suffering world. The word “immediately” is used
more than forty times in Mark, making urgency one of the keynotes of this
Gospel. The reading tresses the source of our Lord’s power.
The
Book of Job reflects serious concern, after the exile, with the problem of
suffering, how to reconcile the misfortunes of the righteous with the justice and love of God. With the spread
of education and scientific developments, humans have found the answer to many
problems, but not the answer to the question of suffering in life. The wife and
the friends of Job misinterpret the meaning of suffering in life. Suffering is
a mystery that cannot be explained by human beings except God. Finally, God gives the
answer.
1. A problem which Job cannot solve:
As
we know Job was a very rich man, he had been blessed with seven sons three
daughters, and a lovely wife, he was a sincere honest, and righteous man one
who always depended on God. But Job least expected, misfortune struck: his
children died, his possessions were taken away and what was worse, a repugnant skin disease covered his body from head to foot. Even his wife turned against
him.
Job
now put a question to himself which practically everyone asks when afflicted by
suffering: Why should God allow these
misfortunes to have come upon me? Three friends come to discuss with Job
trying to find the answer to that question. They made matters worse. Time and
again Job burst into the same complaint, especially when his suffering became
unbearable.
In
the end, rather than question God, Job decided to put his trust in him and
abandoned himself to his will. In return for his trust, God gave him back
whatever he had lost and more, he became a happy man once again. It was God who
led him to come to the right conclusion. This is not the story of a real person
Job in life, but God prompted someone to write this book that might help people
to behave in the time of suffering the way Job did: Trusting God and his goodness.
2. We discover the meaning of suffering
through faith in Christ:
Jesus
cast a light on the mystery of suffering.
The
Gospel of today offers us the picture of an ordinary day in Jesus’ life at the
time of his preaching:
Jesus
preached: the Good News everywhere
Jesus
healed the sick: those who came to him because he had compassion on them and to
lead them to witness his wonders to faith in him. The prophecy of Isaiah
fulfilled in him as the Messiah (Is 53:4; Mt 8:17).
Jesus
prayed: early in the morning in a lonely place before dawn.
Jesus
taught us that bitter lesson by himself suffering and dying so that we may
learn to suffer and die with him. Wise people and doctors know how to obtain
medicines from bitter herbs so also our life should be.
3. A few points for Christians to keep
in mind regarding suffering:
a.
Any
kind of suffering or sickness is not the punishment of God but God’s glory (Jn
9:2-3).
b.
Suffering
is a mystery that cannot be explained, sometimes only God has the reasons for this.
c.
Sickness
is meant to bring us closer to God.
d.
Sickness
brings God closer to people.
e.
Sickness
brings us closer to our brothers and sisters/neighbors.
4. Our Christian community ought to
bestow its love on the sick in their midst: our care should be expressed in
deeds and not just in words.
Thought:
Suffering in all its forms will continue to afflict humans as long as we live in
this world. Sickness is one of the many bitter fruits that sin brings about. We
all get sick. During his preaching, Jesus healed many sick people and even he
raised the dead, but he did not altogether take away sickness from the world.
What is most
important is to bring people closer to God and God bestows his love on the sick
in a particular way. Jesus gives the true meaning of suffering, death, and
sickness in life. Let us believe in the power of Jesus listen to his words preaching, and teachings, and take part in the healing mystery of Jesus.
When a person
truly worships the Lord and invites Him into his/her home, the Lord will enter
and fellowship therein. He willingly becomes a guest of anyone who extends the
invitation.
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