Job 7:1-4.6-7; Ps 147; 2 Cor 9:16-19.22-23; Mk 1:29-39
What is My Mission?
After the Second World War, many nations in the world decided to have a common forum (The United Nations) to address not on conflicts among its members but also to champion human rights. However, almost 80 years since the declaration of human rights, a huge fraction of the world’s population is unable to enjoy these rights. Even with all the wealth accumulated in the world, the majority live in abject poverty because there is a lack of economic fairness, charity, and brotherhood. The irony is that, while the poor keep wishing that one day, they will be rich and happy, the rich wish they could be as happy as the poor are.
One day I visited a popular slam in a big city with some friends from one very “developed” Western country. It was their first time to visit such a suburb. As we were leaving the slam, one of them became very quiet and from my rear mirror, I could see tears peeping from his eyes. When I asked why she was crying, she said it was because different from what they see on television, the people in the slam. However, they seemed very poor, and the conditions of their streets were very bad, everyone seemed to be very happy going about their own businesses. The children were excited to see them and followed the vehicle waving and greeting “How are you”. She added that where they come from, though the majority have all the material things they need, still many are not as happy as the people of the slams. People who have no job, even if the government takes care of their basic needs, they live very depressed lives.
The first reading from the book of Job has something interesting for our reflection today. We know that Job was a righteous man who was tested to the limit by the evil one. After losing all that he loved and owned, Job reflects on his life and makes these conclusions: “that the life of a man on earth is a battle and his days are like the days of a hired hand”. This is a good reminder for us especially when we think that we can find true happiness in worldly things and are tempted to relax in our Christian obligations and commitments. The forces of evil attract us more than the urge to do good. This is because evil always presents itself attractively and beautifully. St. Paul himself says “For I do not do the good I want, but I do the evil I do not want” (Romans 7:19). Our struggle today is to make out what the genuine from fake. Never judge anyone for what they are going through, because we are none better than them, it is only God’s mercy that sustains us. We are all vulnerable and perishable and today we may be well and tomorrow in the worst of conditions.
The Psalmist is reminding us that our God is compassionate, and he looks after his people. “He heals the contrite of heart and he binds up their wounds”. Even when we think that we do not need him in our lives, he remains patient with us, and he rescues us from the predicaments we put ourselves into if we collaborate with his grace.
St. Paul reminds us that our Christian vocation is not a call to isolate ourselves from the world and keep us in a haven waiting to be taken to heaven. It is rather a call to share in the ministry of Christ, which will always attract opposition and hardships. The devil is more active in the church than in the streets. It knows where the catch is worth the effort. Paul understands that his call was an urgent one because many were lost in ignorance about the Messiah. He persecuted the Church because he was blinded by his cultural beliefs. Paul thought he was right to cleanse his inherited religion of corruption until his eyes were opened on the way to persecute Christians in Damascus. How many times do we act like Paul convinced that we are doing the right thing?
In the Gospel passage, the actions of Jesus present him as a messiah who is interested not in political conquest but in the salvation of the people from disease, ignorance, and evil. He is like a friend who shows up whenever we most need help. Today he accompanies his disciples Simon, and Andrew to their house and heals their mother who was with fever. He also attends to the sick neighbors who heard about it and came knocking at the door. This is what will happen if we invite Jesus to our homes and welcome our neighbors to be healed by him. Our neighborhood will be happy and safe for all. The irony today is that neighbors who worship even in the same Church do not see each other face to face.
Dear friends, we all have a mission to accomplish with our lives in this world. We need to seek enlightenment so that we can discover our true calling and ask Jesus to give us the wisdom to carry it out. My mission (i.e. my words, thoughts, and actions) must always be intended to bind what is broken, heal what is wounded, and restore what is lost and not the contrary. Have you discovered your mission yet?
Have a blessed Sunday
Fr. Lawrence Muthee, SVD
SVD JAMBO KENTAN 