Pastor's Letter 20240204 - 04 February 2024 - Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

[Father Michael]

February 4^th, 2024

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jesus heals ^†Simon Peter’s Mother-in-law

 Message from Father ^†Michael

Today’s Theme: "Jesus’ Response to Suffering”

Reflections on Today’s Scripture

(Job 7:1-7)  Someone afflicted faces two alternatives: dwell on the pain and thus despair of any hope for a better tomorrow, or one can allow that suffering to hone the spirit and enlarge the heart to accept the gracious, life-giving, healing power of God.  Wrestling with the problem of why the innocent should suffer, Job takes a rather pessimistic view of life, yet never loses his faith.  Stories of the “suffering innocent” are found in literature from several cultures, spanning almost two millennia B.C.

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(1 Corinthians 9:16-23)  ^†Paul tells how he was compelled to be all things to all people in order to bring them the Good News of Salvation as his vocation.  Those who suffer, once restored, are called to minister to those in need.  Like the wounded and risen Healer, the suffering can impart hope, joy and purpose to even the darkest days.

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(Mark 1:29-39)  By His power over life and death, Jesus healed; raised up, Himself, He raises up to new life all who believe in Him.  The only adequate and worthy response to those redeemed by Christ is faithful service to Jesus and His Church.  In the midst of His work of teaching and healing, Jesus finds it necessary to escape to a lonely place to pray, due to stress caused by those who would have perverted His Messiahship.  This “Man for others” had not come to bask in the fond admiration for a few, but to give Himself in word and work to all peoples.

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Understanding Suffering

Have you ever felt that you just couldn’t get out of bed in the morning?  Perhaps it was something you dreaded that was to happen that day, or it may have been a job evaluation, another day of prolonged illness, or the necessity of caring for a sick or “cranky” child.

During such times of infirmity, we can become depressed, making it almost impossible for us to love and care for others.  It can even become difficult to believe that God (or anyone else,) cares about us.

The question of human suffering, especially for those who live just lives, was a big problem in Biblical times.  Such were Job’s problems, as he was beset with terrible tragedies, even though he was a “good man.”  It’s no wonder we read of his rather “gloomy” view of life.  

Suffering is still an important problem in our day.  Many people could identify with Job—as they suffer poverty, hunger, sickness, injustice, oppression and other tragedies.  In ancient times, such suffering was seen as punishment from God for sin—either one’s own, or their relatives.

Jesus answer to suffering was not “why is there suffering?” or that it was punishment from God (God doesn’t do evil; He does only good;) as it was an answer to actual suffering.  

It was a very practical one, as we hear in today’s Gospel Reading.  As ^†Mark recounts, Jesus was surrounded by throngs of physical and mentally sick people.  He gave each of them healing, one by one.  He didn’t insulate Himself against human pain; but rather, made Himself totally vulnerable before the wounded and the sick. 

Suffering is a lonely condition.  (As one who has lately been taken with a series of “mini-strokes,” that period of time surrounding such episodes can make a person feel totally alone, and helpless.  Although experience has proven them to be temporary, while they are happening, the fear they may not pass is all-consuming!)  Jesus wasn’t sentimental about suffering, nor did He preach resignation as we often hear from pulpits.  He didn’t like to see people suffer, as suffering was one of the evils He came on earth to fight.  He had compassion on people who were suffering, and made them well.  He cast out devils of guilt, fear, shame and despair that held people bound. 

The problem of anguish became an opportunity for Jesus—one which allowed Him to show us the character of God.  By the way He gave Himself to those who were sick, He reveals to us the compassion of God in the face of human distress.  

Such anguish is an opportunity for us, as well.  We may not be able to cure, but it is always within our power to care.  And to care is a very healing thing, in and of itself.  Just to be present for one in pain isn’t an easy thing to do, because it means that instead of relieving their torment, we have to be prepared to share it.  

We come to sufferers with empty hands, asking, “What can we do for them?”  We can use our empty hands to offer comfort.  All that is asked, at the very least, is that we not desert them—that we “stand our ground,” like those who stood with Jesus, at the foot of the Cross.  Simply “being there,” in some ways, is the hardest thing to do.  Offering human warmth can be a healing balm to someone, even though it may not cure them of their malady.

As regards our own suffering—suffering is an unavoidable element of the human condition.  Nevertheless, the road of suffering is narrow and dark.  It’s a great comfort to know that Jesus went down this road before us—to the end—and it hasn’t been the same since He traveled it.  A bright light illuminates the dark road, and He showed us that, even though it leads to Calvary, it doesn’t end there.  It ends at Easter.  Thus, for all Christians, suffering becomes an opportunity to share in Christ’s Passion in the hope of sharing in His Easter victory.  

May God Richly Bless You!

Praise God with Cymbals.docx

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Edited February 3 by Father Michael