5TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR B)

 

1st Reading           Job 7: 1-4, 6-7

Psalm                     147: 1-2. 3-4. 5-6 (R. 3a)

2nd Reading         1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23

Gospel                   Mark 1: 29-39

WHERE IS GOD IN THIS SITUATION?

Today, the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) is also the first Sunday of February. What we can draw, first of all, from this beautiful placement is newness and recreation. It tells us that we always have the opportunity to start again. God strengthens us and journeys with us in all situations for which he allows us to start again.

A question that lingers in the minds of many in reflecting on life's changing scenes is "Where is God?". The same sentiment is shared by victims and sympathisers in moments of pain, grief, and sorrow. The first reading from Job 7: 1-4, 6-7 revolves around this question: "Where is God?". The first reading speaks about Job's response to Eliphaz's reproaches when Job, the "blameless and upright man who feared and avoided evil" (Job 1:1), faced a tragic incident. What any reader of Job's story will first think of is why a just man like Job should suffer and where is God in all these situations. 

The first reading recounts what Job said about his own tragedy, and it seemed like one getting into despair, "without hope" (v. 6b). In fact, Job usually would anticipate the time he would wake up because of the pains caused by the wounds all over his body. He cannot sleep. He said, "When I lie down, I say, 'When shall I arise?' But the night is long, and I am full of tossing till the dawn" (Job 7: 4). The word rendered as NIGHT (ערב - 'ereb) properly means the early part of the night until it is succeeded by the dawn. The same word is used in Genesis 1:5 to refer to EVENING. We can understand then that Job does not even get into the night proper but looks forward to the coming of the day so that he can be okay because he is tormented by the pains all over his body and he cannot sleep. The life of Job and the little we hear in the first reading today is so awful that we wonder where God was in all these. If this could happen to a just man, what about the unjust man? 

However, from Job's words, we note that human life is a state of probation; and every day and place is a time and place of exercise to train us up for eternal life. This is seen in Job's comparison of life with hard service. In this exercise, God seems missing, but He is present. When we are faced with life's changing scenes, with suffering and pain, God still stays with us. Like Job, we also look forward to the coming of the day, a time of redemption and of freedom. The anticipation of these alone should point to us that God is with us. He created the Day as much as he created the night. When the nights of life engulf us and there is no sign of hope, the anticipation of the appearance of a Day (of light) should be our hope and that God is not far from us. He heals the broken-hearted (Psalm 147: 3a).

The Gospel (Mark 1: 29-39), a continuation of last Sunday's Gospel, sets Jesus' ministry in the region of Galilee. Chapter 1 of Mark is filled with Jesus' miraculous works, and our Gospel narrative is filled with three groups of people healed: Simon's mother (vv. 29-31), those healed in the evening (vv. 32-34), and those healed in the other parts of Galilee (v. 39). Let us focus on only one — the healing of Simon's mother-in-law. The mention of Simon's mother-in-law points to the fact that Simon is the only disciple whose marital status is clearly spoken about. 

What is interesting is that the woman is sick with a fever (v. 30). The word used to denote fever is πυρέσσω (puressō). This word is from the Greek word πυρ (Pur) which means FIRE. Literally, Simon's mother-in-law was ON FIRE. This is what is described as fever. Luke, a physician, diagnosed this affliction as a  "great fever" (Lk. 4: 38). This is Simon's mother-in-law in question. Not long ago, Simon and Andrew were called by the Lord to be disciples, "fishers of men" (Mk. 1: 16-18). We can safely say that these two, in comparison with Job, are just and faithful men. Meanwhile, Simon was faced with a problem at home. All was not well with him. He, as a just man and more a disciple, is facing a situation. Jesus helped him and cured the woman and restored her. 

What Jesus did to the woman is to "lift her up" (v. 31). The word used to describe the "lifting up" is ĒGEIREN, and it is the same word used by the two men who were at Jesus' tomb to denote RISEN, a word addressed to the women who came to anoint Jesus' body after his burial (Luke 24: 6). What happened to Simon's mother-in-law as fever could actually be seen as something that could lead her to death. Jesus gave her life again. It makes it true then that God not far from us when life's scenes change. 

The miracle is very true because a long fever usually leaves its victim weak, and a period of time is necessary before the vital powers of the body are restored to their normal strength, but this woman's cure appears to have been very instant.

In the final analysis, we understand thag the soul that is sick with sin also needs to feel the touch of a hand that is warm with sympathy. This is exactly what God does to us. When all else seems to fail and hope is dim, God touches us with a warm hand and assures us of hope. Where is God in all these situations? Simply, God is always there. All we need is to persevere and be faithful. 

Pax et Bonum