Sermon/Homily for 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B 4TH FEBRUARY 2024

Sermon/Homily for 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B 4TH FEBRUARY 2024

Job 7:1-4,6-7. Psalm147:1-2,3-4,5-6. 1 Corinthians 9:16-19,22-23. Mark 1:29-39.

Theme: Jesus and Suffering Humanity.

When we reflect on the terrible problems some people have and the evil that goes on in the world, we ask ourselves why it should be like this? Why does God who is almighty and all-powerful not prevent suffering in the world? In trying to come to grip with the cold realities of our existence, we can easily become frustrated.

The Book of Job from which our first reading was taken was written to tell us that it is wrong to query God about his ways. Since God's ways are not ours. When Job realised that he had no right to demand an answer from God about his suffering, he said, "Therefore, I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me which I did not know" (Job 42:3). Job describes in dramatic terms in the first reading the situation of humanity on earth.

The lesson the Book of Job intended to teach was the belief prevalent among the Jews for centuries that God rewarded the good in this life and punished the wicked was not well-founded. Job was not a sinner, yet he suffered much in this life; this was proof that this commonly held belief was wrong. The Book of Job did not solve this problem because in common with his contemporaries, the author had only very vague ideas about the future life. With the example of Christ's sufferings and death before us, we can now see the value of suffering in this life and the full meaning of the didactic story of Job.

Today's Gospel is a reply to the problems by Job. Jesus sees the sad reality of suffering and disease. He takes it on and exhorts his disciples to engage in bringing about the new world that He has just begun through his preaching and healing ministry.

In today's Gospel, they brought to Jesus all who were sick or possessed with demons. "He healed many who were sick with various diseases and cast out many demons" (Mark 1:34). He did not heal all those who were sick. His primary mission was to proclaim the good news. This is about his teaching ministry. The many healings He performed were done as a sign. Sickness is not a result of sinfulness. Rather, because of our human condition, unfinished products yet to be perfected.

Through healing, Christ wanted to manifest himself gradually, first preparing the minds and hearts of his hearers to understand the true nature of his mission. The people had a wrong idea of what the Messiah would be. They expected a political leader who would free Israel from the hated Roman government. Christ corrected this wrong idea, saying his kingdom is not of this world.

The next morning, very early, He went to a deserted place outside the town to pray to his Father in solitude. He prayed daily, but the Gospels mention special occasions like the present one, the beginning of his preaching and healing mission when He puts himself in his Father's hands.

He informed his four disciples of his mission, who said to him, "Everyone is searching for you" (Mark 1:37). He informs them of his plan for the future, saying, "Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there alao; for that is why I came" (Mark 1:38). This was the purpose of his coming from heaven to earth in human form, namely, to tell us of God plans for us.

In the second reading, we have the example of St. Paul,  who did not spare himself in his dedication to preaching the Gospel, gave up his rights so as not to be an obstacle to the growth of God's kingdom.

"Praise the Lord who heals the broken-hearted" is our responsorial psalm, and we see these in all our readings today. While sickness, suffering, and pain are part of the human condition on earth, they are not necessarily signs that God loves us less or is punishing us for our sins. Such conditions can very often test our faith in God and lead us to despair, as in the case of Job in the first reading. Sometimes, God may allow us to endure sickness, sufferings, and pain to test our faith, humble us, and bring us back to him.

In the Gospel, Jesus restored to health many who were afflicted with various kinds of diseases, including Simon Peter's mother-in-law. Yet, the popularity He garnered as a result of his famed miracle working was not enough to stop him from moving on to a different place to preach the good news of salvation. Sometimes,God is asking us to make a move and a change. Let us pray for insight to know those moments 

May our situation be it good or bad, bring us closer to God, and make us better through Christ our Lord. Amen.