THE HEALING MINISTRY OF JESUS
First Reading: Job 7: 1-4 and 6-7
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 9: 16-19 and 22-23
Gospel Reading: Mark 1: 29-39
*First reading is from the book of Job. A graphic description of how Job, a just man, comes to grip with the problem of sufferings during his life is given. Job is severely tested by Satan. The Lord God allows Job to be tested by the adversary. He loses his beloved children and all his vast possessions. He is afflicted by pain and sickness. He feels that there is only misery and sufferings in this world. For all his deliberations about the cause of his sufferings, He is unable to find a convincing answer. Some time or other, we too may face the problem of sufferings in our lives without any reasonable explanations.
*Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to Corinthians. Paul explains to the Christian community at Corinth and to us the compulsions of preaching the Gospel. To that end, he has become all things to all: Even to the weak and those who suffer. He has no choice but to preach the Gospel because he is commissioned to do so by the Lord Jesus.
He healed many who were sick Today's Gospel reading is from St. Mark. During His public ministry, Jesus expresses His love and compassion for the sick and those suffering from various diseases. He visits Simon Peter's mother-in-law who was bedridden with fever. He stretches out His hands and heals her. In the same way, Jesus heals many who were sick and those possessed by evil spirits. Jesus gives us no answers about the question of sufferings in this world. Nor does He try to explain why people have to suffer. However, through His healing ministry, He shows us the importance of transforming our sufferings and other's sufferings and pain to divine experiences. By identifying Himself with the sick and the dying and His death on the cross, He teaches us how to face sufferings in our lives. Jesus reveals to us that sufferings are part of the mysterious plan of God. It all depends on us how to shoulder our cross; for by uniting our trials with Jesus, we too can become victorious and lead meaningful lives. Like Jesus, we His followers are invited to bring healing and solace to someone: May be by a word of sympathy or by a kind and loving gesture or by a silent prayer. That is what Jesus wants us to do when we meet people who suffer. In the second part of the Gospel, we see that after His healing ministry, Jesus goes to a lonely place to pray. In spite of His busy day, Jesus finds time to be in communion with the heavenly Father. All our busy life and activities should be constantly nourished by prayer.
"How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believer's ears! It sooths his sorrows, heals his wounds and drives away his fear." - John Newton
"Be not wise in your own eyes, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will bring healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones." - Proverbs 3: 7-8
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