FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Open with a prayer: Good and gracious God, thank you for drawing us together for fellowship and the sharing of your Holy Word. Open our minds and hearts to hear the message you want to convey to us. May your Word grow strong in our hearts so that others may come to know and love you through the witness of our lives. Amen.

Sharing of life: What are you most and least grateful for this week?

Facilitator reads focus statement: The first reading and gospel address the mystery of evil and sickness. In the second reading, Paul shares with us his compulsion to preach the Word of God.

Read the three readings and the Psalm. Pause briefly after each reading.

FIRST READING: Job 7:1-4, 6-7

The book of Job is a theological statement about the issue of innocent human suffering. The book begins with the question: Are God's people only faithful to him because of the blessings they receive? Would they remain faithful if God withdrew his blessings? Satan raises the question and God uses Job as a test case. When the prosperous and just Job is suddenly afflicted by the death of his family, the loss of wealth, and personal illness, a series of "friends" argue that Job's misfortunes must be a punishment for some sin. Job refuses to accept this traditional explanation of why "bad things happen to good people."

Today's reading represents Job's response to one of his so-called "comforters". He rejects their shallow explanation of his misery. Job reflects not only on his own pain but also on the suffering of all innocent people who suffer. He gives voice to the sentiments that many people feel at a time of suffering: Life is futile. It has no meaning. "Is not man's life on earth drudgery?" The sooner death comes along, the better. Why doesn't God speak to me? God's silence and seeming absence is also a part of our suffering. (God does speak in chapter 40.) Job's lament is a "complaint of the righteous". We need to know that it is okay for us to complain to God about the circumstances of our lives.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM 147

This psalm praises God for his concern for the broken-hearted.

SECOND READING: 1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23

In these verses, Paul tells us how he has no choice but to preach the Gospel. He seeks no pay for his ministry. He is totally dedicated to it - seeking to be all things to all people, so that he can win all for Christ.

GOSPEL: Mark 1:29-39

The gospel, like the first reading, deals with the issue of evil and sickness. It recounts "a day in the life of Jesus". These verses weave together four events. In the first event, Jesus heals Peter's mother-in-law. Upon being healed, she immediately gets up and begins to serve. Healing, leading to service and discipleship. "The greatest in the kingdom is the one who serves." The second event could be slated as: Evening Healing Service in the Streets. In this event, Jesus directly confronts his enemies, namely evil and sickness and he demonstrates his power over both. Notice that Jesus forbids the demons to reveal his identity. This is known as the "messianic secret". The popular understanding of the Messiah was political and military, one who would lead the people in rebellion against the Romans and restore the glory of Israel. Jesus knew that God's will for him was not to fulfill this understanding of Messiahship. He would be a suffering Messiah, one who would triumph through suffering; something the people would not fully comprehend until after the resurrection. In the third event, Jesus teaches us the importance of balancing a busy schedule with time for quiet and solitude. He shows us his need to "get away from it all" and spend time "recharging spiritual and emotional batteries". But it seems the disciples chased after him, saying; "Everyone is looking for you". So in the fourth event, Jesus heads back to the ministry of teaching and preaching, casting out demons as he went.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. What verse or image spoke to you and why?

2. Can you recall a time when you felt like Job? If so, what was that feeling like for you?

3. In the second reading, Paul tells us that he is compelled to preach the gospel. He is filled with zeal for the gospel. What might you do to make yourself more on fire for the gospel of Christ?

4. To what extent do you balance the doing aspect of your life with time for prayer?

RESPONDING TO GOD'S WORD

Name one way you can act on today's readings. Suggestion: Pray frequently for people who spend their days lying on beds of pain and for all who are carrying a big cross.

CONCLUDE WITH PRAYERS OF PETITION AND INTERCESSION.

Especially pray for the sick and their caregivers. Pray for evangelists and catechists and for people engaged in the healing ministry.