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.