The Catholic Calendar
and Daily Meditation
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
http://new.usccb.org/bible/readings/020512.cfm
Job 7:1-4, 6-7
Psalm 147:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23
Mark 1:29-39
A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:
Many years ago, I visited a woman in the hospital whose whole body was covered with burns suffered in an accident. She could barely talk, but when she saw who I was, she made the effort to whisper to me, "Please tell me the story of Job." Many weeks later, she told me that this had been her only consolation in enduring the severe pain that wracked her body for many weeks.
When we think of Job, we think of a once-prosperous landowner, sitting on a dung heap, scraping his sores. Meanwhile, well-meaning friends are trying to convince this totally innocent man that he must have sinned grievously and God is now punishing him. At first, his faith prompts him to cry, "The Lord gives, the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord!" Eventually, though, Job has to work through a great period of depression and near-despair. While acknowledging his innocence and the seeming injustice of his present condition, he eventually bows his spirit in total and complete trust in God. His powerful story has comforted thousands upon thousands of people who have lost everything, but have held tenaciously to their faith in a loving God.
In our own lives, when we feel that God has acted cruelly or unjustly, we need to look at the crucifix. Was it fair for Jesus, whose only crime was loving us, to be killed on a cross after severe humiliation and torture? Was it fair for His mother, Mary, to suffer the terrible pain that only mothers can know and appreciate?
Our second reading from Corinthians gives us the example of St. Paul who endured daily trials because the compulsion of love and zeal urged him to preach the Word of life every day, in season and out of season.
In the Gospel, Jesus helps Peter's mother-in-law to her feet after curing her fever. What a touching scene when this now-healthy woman asks for her apron and starts preparing dinner for Jesus and His followers! Although we do not know the name of Peter's wife, we feel sorry for her! Not only does Jesus take her husband away to be an apostle, He even makes a follower out of the girl's mother. Who could resist the power of His love flowing into both her body and her spirit? May we, too, surrender our hearts to His power!
::: Msgr. Paul Whitmore | email: pwhitmore29(at)yahoo(dot)
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
See today's Scripture or the Lives of the Saints
This Week's Meditations: Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Look up a meditation in our Archives
Please consider praying online, the Liturgy of the Hours - the official prayer of the Church - complete with audio and text presentations for computer, Android, iPhone, iPad and Podcast. Also, available, either single or four-volume paper versions of the Divine Office, reasonably priced at: http://divineoffice.org/
Would you like to know more about the Catholic Faith? click here!
Back to The Journey Home Page
Copyright © “The Way, The Truth, The Life”
