February 04, 2012
Saturday
Anticipated Sunday Mass
(Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time)
by Rev. Fr. Stephen Mifsud (MSSP –
Quezon City)
MSSP House / Mass for the poor
First Reading: Job 7:1-4, 6-7
Psalm: Psalm 147:1-6
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23
Gospel: Mark 1:29-39
29 And immediately he left the synagogue,
and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon's mother-in-law lay sick with
a fever, and immediately they told him of her. 31 And he came and took her by the hand
and lifted her up, and the fever left her; and she served them. 32 That evening, at sundown, they brought
to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. 33 And the whole city was gathered
together about the door. 34 And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many
demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. 35 And in the morning, a great while
before day, he rose and went out to a lonely place, and there he prayed. 36 And Simon and those who were with him
pursued him, 37 and they found him and
said to him, "Everyone is searching for you." 38 And he said to them, "Let us go on
to the next towns that I may preach there also; for that is why I came
out." 39 And he went throughout
all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.er (M
HOMILY
From
which book did we listen today the first reading?
Book
of Job.
Job
was a wealthy man who lost everything, even his family and in today’s reading
we hear him complaining “ang buhay ng tao ay sagana sa hirap ... maraming buwan
na ang lumipas, walang layon ang buhay ko...”
In
his situation, Job is pessimistic and sees only sadness, forced work as he is a
slave
Job
represents us when the world around becomes heavy, when we lose our happiness,
when we lose hope.
On
the other hand we have the Gospel which presents to us hope, a good news. We just read
about Jesus who heals the mother in law of Peter and all the sick who went to
him.
Jesus
takes the problem of suffering very seriously.
He doesn’t just talk about it (like politicians) but dips himself in
work. In fact today we see Jesus
1.
Curing
the sick
2.
Casting
out devils
Jesus is not happy seeing suffering ... so why he does
not eliminate it with just one miracle?
There was a Filipino who was complaining to God
because of so much suffering in the world... so many people without food,
without house, without money, without work.
In frustration, he asked, “Oh God, if you really are loving and
powerful, why are you not doing anything to remove the misfortunes and alleviate
the suffering of people?” And God replied to this Filipino, “In fact, I have
done something already. I created YOU”
God created me and you to be instruments of his
healing in the world. He created us to
carry on with his mission of proclaiming his Gospel of life and love.
How? First to be in solidarity with those who are
suffering. Like St. Paul’s today “Sa piling ng mahihina, ako’y naging gaya ng
mahihina upang mahikayat ko sila”
To
be in solidarity means to do what the mother in law of Peter did today after
she was healed... what did she do? “naglingkod sa kanila”. To serve, to help others in their needs,
those who live in your same house, to your friends, not only with money but
with any talent you have.
The
problem is that when I serve I get tired... and sometimes I stop serving. So when I get tired I need energy. And from where I get energy? From gin? from
gatorade?
When
Jesus was tired , he went up the mountain ... to pray. Jesus needed prayer... and so do I when my
life is heavy.
I
need prayer. I need the spirit of Christ
otherwise I become tired, life becomes mabigat, boring...
You
know why so many people lost the joy of living? Because they lost their hope
and faith in Jesus. Jesus can bring healing,
joy and light to our lives... all he wants is
- PRAY: ibig sabihin: that we come to Him, talk with him, listen to him,
- SERVE : ibig sabihin : that we help each other and serve.
So
let us today change our complaining into action and be instruments in God’s
hand to bring healing and life around us.
