Homily For Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, 4th February 2024

Readings: Job 7:1-4.6-7, Ps 147, 1Cor.9:16-19.22-23, Mark 1:29-39

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

THE LORD CARES FOR OUR WELL-BEING

 

A critical study of the scriptures we will understand that it reveals the compassionate love of God in its historical and physical solidarity with human suffering. This is more evident in the compassionate way Jesus carried out his activities which springs from the love of God the Father and constitutes the basis of the Church’s liberating activity. Little wonder in our Gospel passage today, as Jesus continued to carry out his mission of preaching he also showed compassion and care for those who are passing through difficulties.

 

Thus, when he returned from preaching in the synagogue to Simon Peter's house, behold Peter's mother-in-law was sick with fever. This is not a minor sickness in the ancient world. A fever was not a kind of sickness that lasted for a short while but was often a symptom of a condition that would lead to death. So Jesus went to her, took her by the hand and helped her up. And the fever left her and she began to serve them. That evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were sick and possessed by devils and he cured them.

 

This clearly described how and why Jesus came down to dwell with us and by taking up our human nature made it possible for him to identify himself with the struggles of humanity as he embraced us with his love, compassion and care. For he came to heal us from our sins and from all the afflictions we encounter and struggle in this passing world.

 

So, when Jesus cured Peter’s mother-in-law, she immediately began to serve them, something she was unable to do because of her illness. Thus, she was able to render her service to the first Christian community. She was healed and restored with new strength so that she may again rise and take up her proper place in the community of God’s people.

 

Dear friends, God really cares for our well-being, his always ready to help us in our struggles so that we can be well disposed to serve him. So whenever we are passing through difficult moments, we must not allow despair, fear or doubt to cloud our hearts. We need to have faith in God and wholeheartedly believe in him just like Job in our first reading who even at the darkest moments of his life remained faithful to God and did not blame God for all of his misfortunes. Instead, he blamed himself and the circumstances for having placed him in such a condition. For he still kept the faith and held fast to the assurance in God’s promises.

 

Therefore, we need to have more faith and trust in God and be more hopeful no matter how difficult things may be for us. Also, whenever the Lord restores us, it may be tempting to sit back and accept people’s good wishes and congratulations. These should not be our attitudes, we should rather learn from Peter’s mother-in-law, that healing is not just to make us well but to enable us to become active again in rendering serving to God and humanity.

 

For it is another opportunity to serve God and humanity and so become all things to all people just like St. Paul said in our second reading. For in becoming the slave of everyone else, we are imitating Jesus who has made himself all things to all of us. He has given up everything for us through his life, suffering, death and resurrection.

 

Friends, what are you passing through in your life? What is that situation that made you inefficient? What are those problems and obstacles that make you cry and sad? What are those past mistakes in your life that weaken your spirit whenever you remember them? I want you to know that God knows about them. He wants us to learn to surrender those situations to him just like Job and St Paul in our readings today. Very soon we will feel the hands of Jesus lifting you above those situations just like Peter’s mother-in-law and then you will find peace and joy to begin afresh and fulfil those wonderful plans and goals that seemed impossible in your life.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we are sick in need of your healing and compassion. As we struggle every day to serve you and humanity, heal all our illnesses and give us the grace to get up and become more active again in order to render more quality services to you and our communities. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a joyful Sunday celebration.