Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – February 4, 2024
Readings: Job 7:1-4,6-7; Ps 146:1-6; 1 Cor. 9:16-19,22-23; Gospel – Mark 1:29-39.
Theme: Conquering Evil!
Sunday Synopsis
The first reading which highlights human suffering and the shortness of life, details Job’s lamentation about the problem of evil. The message of Saint Paul in the second reading relates with the gospel because it underscores strength in weakness through Christ. The gospel tells us where to find answers to the problem of evil – Jesus’ healing of Peter’s mother-in-law. Today’s liturgy assures that we can only conquer evil through the sacraments, prayer/fasting and preaching the gospel.
Introduction
Beloved in Christ, our liturgy showcases how we can conquer evil. It urges the Church to pay more attention to the ministry of the sick which brings both physical healing and spiritual healing. This is because, the healing ministry is an important aspect of Jesus’ life and ministry as we shall discover.
Background and summary of the readings
The first reading (Job 7:1-4,6-7) which highlights human suffering and the shortness of life, details Job’s lamentation about the problem of evil. It reveals that good people also suffer affliction. The text attempts to put before us the challenge of the problem of evil which Saints Augustine and Thomas Aquinas wrestled with. The patristics conceived evil as the deprivation of an integrity due to a being – We often ask, where did evil come from? This is a wrong question because it attributes “beingness” to evil. Unfortunately, evil is not a thing – if it were, it would have been good. So, God did not create evil because everything he created was good (Cf. Genesis 1:31; 1 Timothy 4:4).
The message of Saint Paul in the second reading (1 Cor. 9:16-19,22-23) relates with the gospel because it underscores strength in weakness through Christ. St. Paul urges us to imitate him by “being all things to all people” bringing healing to the sick, weak, and afflicted.
The gospel (Mark 1:29-39) tells us where to find answers to the problem of evil – Jesus’ healing of Peter’s mother-in-law and others who were possessed, withdrawal to pray and going into other towns to preach. The text reveals that we can only conquer evil through the sacraments, prayer/fasting and preaching the gospel.
Pastoral Lessons
1. Support the afflicted: Our reading calls us as a Church and a people to support the afflicted by sharing the pain of the sick in our homes, communities and hospital who have lost faith in God and man by recommitting ourselves to their plight and bringing them the peace and love of Jesus Christ.
2. Care for the sick: Pastors of souls and healthcare workers must see their vocation and profession as a continuation of the ministry of the sick which requires sincere sacrificial love, patience, and prayer mindful of the scripture which says: “Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the Church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven” (James 5:14-15).
3. Be all things to all people: St. Paul urges us to imitate him by “being all things to all people” bringing healing and joy to the sick, weak and afflicted.
4. Shun publicity stunt: Following the example of Jesus who went about quietly doing good, the Church must frown at the dramatic exploitation of the media for stage-managed miracles and TV advertorials by condemning it for what it is – cheap propaganda which seeks membership and is often tied to monetary gains.
5. Conquer Evil: Amid the mystery The gospel (Mark 1:29-39) tells us where to find answers to the problem of evil – Jesus’ healing of Peter’s mother-in-law of evil, Jesus reminds us that the only way we can conquer evil is through the healing sacraments of the Church (anointing of the sick and penance), prayer and devotion to the Eucharist bearing in mind that Christ who is present body, soul, and divinity in the Blessed Eucharist has the capacity to heal us in body, soul and spirit beyond imagining.
Summary Lines
1. The first reading which highlights human suffering and the shortness of life, details Job’s lamentation about the problem of evil.
2. The message of Saint Paul in the second reading relates with the gospel because it underscores strength in weakness through Christ.
3. St. Paul urges us to imitate him by “being all things to all people” bringing healing to the sick, weak, and afflicted.
4. The gospel tells us where to find answers to the problem of evil – Jesus’ healing of Peter’s mother-in-law…
5. The text reveals that we can only conquer evil through the sacraments, prayer/fasting and preaching the gospel.
Conclusion
Since the scripture says, “By their fruits you shall know them” (Matthew 7:16), we are urged to bring Christ to those who are afflicted. Pastors of souls must shun publicity stunt in reaching out to the sick and also educate their flock to determine a true miracle from a fake one through the following indicators: When the healer does not want publicity; when the healer does not advertise their church; when those involved do not demand or take money from you and when they emphasis spiritual healing which is a prerequisite for heaven rather than physical healing which may happen now and later on, the person may lose salvation. May Christ the healer always intervene in our afflictions, empowering us to conquer evil, now and in the next. Happy Sunday!
