Sunday Reflections
5th Sunday of year B
Jesus gives meaning to our life on eart
1. ✠ A reading from the holy Gospel according to
Mark 1:29-39
On leaving the synagogue, Jesus went with James and John straight to the house of Simon and Andrew. Now Simon’s mother-in-law had gone to bed with fever, and they told him about her straightaway. He went to her, took her by the hand and helped her up. And the fever left her and she began to wait on them.
That evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were sick and those who were possessed by devils. The whole town came crowding round the door, and he cured many who were suffering from diseases of one kind or another; he also cast out many devils, but he would not allow them to speak, because they knew who he was.
In the morning, long before dawn, he got up and left the house, and went off to a lonely place and prayed there. Simon and his companions set out in search of him, and when they found him they said, ‘Everybody is looking for you.’ He answered, ‘Let us go elsewhere, to the neighbouring country towns, so that I can preach there too, because that is why I came.’ And he went all through Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out devils.
2. Today’s readings focus on the hope and meaning that the gospel of Christ can offer to humans in their life on earth. In the first reading (Job7:1-4, 6-7) Job painted a pitiable picture of human life on earth. He compared it to that of a paid labourer whose only reward is his miserable pay at the end of the day. He has no choice than to continue working daily or he dies of hunger. For Job human beings are like squirrels in an iron cage who can do nothing to escape from their prison and whose only hope of freedom is death. Man is thus seen as thrown into the world without consultation and not equipped with any skill to face life. He has to learn everything. Even when he learns about God and fears him, his God does not guarantee his being free from sorrows and pain as was the case of Job.
3. Without Christ, Job’s description of human life would be exact. But today’s gospel shows that things are not exactly as they are described. Jesus is presented as the one who spends his whole day working to deliver people from ignorance, sickness and devils. The day at Capanaum was loaded with activities. After the synagogue Jesus returned home to be hosted by one of his disciples only to be asked to lay his hand on a sick lady in the family, Peter’s mother-in-law. With that he started series of healing and deliverance, in this way giving hope to the hopeless.
4. Having spent the whole day ministering to people and their needs, Jesus had to leave the house at night to spend time in prayers. When day came the disciple started looking for him. On finding him they informed him that people were looking for him and would like him to stay back with them. He refused to stay and moved on to other towns to continue his mission of teaching, healing and deliverance.
5. Today’s gospel communicates hope to all who think that human life on earth is only filled with suffering. It assures all that Christ is there to run to their rescue in times of need. It emphasizes the necessity of prayer for all involved in the work of the gospel. In spite of his fatigue, Jesus still made out time to commune with God the Father through prayer made in a quiet lonely place at a time that guarantees him no distraction from the people. Finally the gospel communicates the urgency of spreading the gospel. Jesus could not tarry for relaxation with the people. The gospel remained his priority. It is in this context that one understands today’s second reading (1cor 9:16-19, 22-23). Paul declared that he was under obligation to announce the gospel for free and that he should be punished or damned if he does not announce the gospel. He sees the gospel as God’s power to save and give hope to the hopeless.
6. Without intimate relationship with God, human life on earth has no meaning. Man is born, labours, suffers, dies and is buried. What a sorry story. But with Christ you have someone to help you carry your burden and lead you to blessed eternity. He says: “Come to me all you who are burdened and I will give you rest”(Mt11:28). Do not spend your life as if all depends on you and as if all ends here in earth. Make Jesus your friend and partner so that your life will have meaning and direction, for he is the way, the truth and life(Jn 14:6). © Vitalis Anaehobi, 04/02/24
