Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – February 4, 2018.

Readings: Job 7:1-4,6-7; Ps 146:1-6; 1 Cor. 9:16-19,22-23; Gospel – Mark 1:29-39.

Theme: Christ Our Healer!

Introduction

Beloved in Christ, our liturgy showcases Christ as our healer. It equally calls the Church to pay more attention to the ministry of the sick. The healing ministry is an important aspect of the Church’s life and mission. Little wonder Saint James exhorts: “Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the Church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven” (James 5:14-15).

You will notice that the emphasis in the text above is on both physical healing (will make the sick person well) and spiritual healing (If they have sinned, they will be forgiven). I am afraid that these days healing sessions emphasise more of physical healing than spiritual healing which is more important. Don’t also forget that whenever Jesus healed anyone, he would often end with the saying, “Go, your sins are forgiven you” (Cf. Matthew 9:5; Luke 7:48; Mark 2:5).  We shall explore the crucial place of the ministry of the sick in the light of our liturgical readings while establishing the fact that it is God who gives healing powers to the Church.

Summary of Our Readings

The story of the first reading from the book of Job (7:1-4,6-7) is that of lamentation. From the existential point of view, the text decries human suffering and the shortness of life. Short as the reading is, it is a summary of the story of how good people suffer affliction. It underscores affliction as a human condition. The reading also attempts to put before us the challenge of the problem of evil.

The first reading connects with the gospel (Mark 1:29-39) on the theme of sickness and human affliction. It recounts how Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law. It also discloses how that singular healing event had a ripple effect by stating that that evening, all who were sick including those possessed were brought to him and he healed them. It adds that amidst ministering to the sick, Jesus had time to withdraw for prayer and also go to other towns to preach the gospel.   

The message of Saint Paul in the second reading (1 Cor. 9:16-19,22-23) relates with the gospel because it underscores strength in weakness through Christ. Both the gospel and the second reading reveal Christ as our healer and strength. He heals the sick and strengthens the weak.

Pastoral Application

1. Our reading calls us as a Church and a people to share the pain and affliction of the sick in our homes, communities and hospital who have lost faith in God and man by recommitting ourselves to their plight and bringing them the peace and love of Jesus Christ.

2. Pastors of souls and healthcare workers must see their vocation and profession as a continuation of the ministry of the sick which requires sincere sacrificial love, patience and prayer. 

3. The Church must frown at the dramatic exploitation of the media for miracle sessions by condemning it for what it is namely cheap propaganda and seeking for membership which is often tied to monetary gains and TV advertorials. 

4. Every healing session which emphases how powerful the healer is rather than on Christ or creates a kind of hero-worship giving the impression that “my church is more powerful than yours or if you come to our church, you’ll be automatically healed of your ailments” shortchanges Christianity.

5. The Church should be worried that despite the false claims of healing prowess amongst Christian churches in Nigeria today, our country is plagued by hunger, disease and deaths.

6. Christians are asked to reject a brand of Christianity which only insists that Jesus was rich in all things as a basis for miracle centres which talk about opening the eyes of the blind and money bags without the commensurate teaching about the faith as well as repentance and salvation.

7. Concerning spiritual care of the sick, it behooves the Church to always remember the words of Jesus:  “Tell no one about it” (Cf. Luke 5:14; Mark 8:30; Matthew 8:4). 

8. The world looks up to the Church concerning having regard for the poor, the weak, the oppressed and those at the margins of society.

9. Our liturgy calls us to renew our faith in Jesus-the-miracle-worker who has wrought our healing on Calvary.

10. Catholics are challenged to shun jumping from one church to another because Christ is present body, soul and divinity in the Blessed Eucharist and he heals us in body and soul much more than can happen anywhere.

Homiletic Quotes to Remember

1. Our liturgy showcases Christ as our healer.

2. The healing ministry is an important aspect of the Church’s life and mission.

3. Amidst ministering to the sick, Jesus had time to withdraw for prayer and also go to other towns to preach the gospel.  

4. He heals the sick and strengthens the weak.

5. Our reading calls us as a Church and people to share the pain and affliction of the sick by ministering to them.

Conclusion

Since the scripture says, “By their fruits you shall know them” (Matthew 7:16), we are urged to bring Christ to those who are afflicted. Pastors of souls must shun publicity stunt in reaching out to the sick and also educate their flock to determine a true miracle from a fake one through the following indicators: When the healer does not want publicity; when the healer does not advertise his or her church; when those involved do not demand or take money from you and when they emphasis spiritual healing which is a prerequisite for heaven rather than physical healing which may happen now and later on the person goes back to a life of sin. May Christ our healer never cease in intervening in our afflictions. Happy Sunday!