Catholic Daily Reading + Reflection: Sunday 7 February 2020 Jesus And Suffering Humanity

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 7, 2021
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
VESTMENT: Green
TODAY’S ROSARY: Glorious Mystery
DEATH ANNIVERSARY: ONITSHA: Archbishop Charles Heery, CSSP, 7 February 1967

Theme of the Sunday: Jesus and Suffering Humanity. When we reflect on the terrible problems some people have, we ask ourselves why it should be like this. In the first reading Job describes in dramatic terms the situation of humanity on earth. The gospel reading is a reply to the problems by Job. Jesus sees the sad reality of suffering and disease. He takes it on and exhorts his disciples to engage in bringing about the new world that he has just begun. In the second reading we have the example of Paul, a man who did not spare himself in his dedication to his mission, giving up his rights so as not to be an obstacle to the growth of the Kingdom.

Entrance Ant.

O come, let us worship God, and bow low before the God who made us, for he is the Lord our God.

FIRST READING

“I am full of tossing till the dawn. ”
A reading from the Book of Job (Job 7: 1-4.6-7)

Job spoke, saying: “Has not man a hard service upon earth, and are not his days like the days of a hireling? Like a slave who longs for the shadow, and like a hireling who looks for his wages, so I am allotted months of emptiness, and nights of misery are apportioned to me. When I lie down I say, ‘When shall I arise? ’ But the night is long, and I am full of tossing till the dawn. “My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and come to their end without hope. “Remember that my life is a breath; my eye will never again see good.”

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm147: 1-2.3-4.5-6 (R. see 3a)

R/. Praise the Lord who heals the broken-hearted.
Or: Alleluia.

How good to sing psalms to our God;
how pleasant to chant fitting praise!
The Lord builds up Jerusalem
and brings back Israel’s exiles. R.

He heals the broken-hearted;
he binds up all their wounds.
He counts out the number of the stars;
he calls each one by its name. R.

Our LORD is great and almighty;
his wisdom can never be measured.
The Lord lifts up the lowly;
he casts down the wicked to the ground. R.

SECOND READING

“Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel!”
A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 9:16-19.22-23)

Brethren: If I preach the Gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission. What then is my reward? Just this: that in my preaching I may make the Gospel free of charge, not making full use of my right in the Gospel. For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, that I might win the more. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. I do it all for the sake of the Gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

The word of the Lord.

ALLELUIA Matthew 8: 17

Alleluia. Christ took our infirmities and bore our diseases. Alleluia.

GOSPEL

“He healed many who were sick with various diseases.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 1:29-39)

At that time: Leaving the synagogue, Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother- in-law lay sick with a fever, and immediately they told him of her. And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her; and she served them. That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered together about the door. 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. And in the morning, a great while before day, he rose and went out to a lonely place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him followed him, and they found him and said to him, “Every one is searching for you.” 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.” And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Prayer of the Faithful

Everybody is looking for Christ.

PRIEST: We are called as his followers to continue the healing ministry of Jesus Christ. Let us ask God our Father for all the graces we need to become healers in our world.

READER:
For those who exercise a special healing ministry, in the Church, (pause) that they may so use the special gifts which God has given them that diseases of body, mind, and spirit in the afflicted will yield to the power of the Risen Jesus. (pause) Hear us, O Lord; heal us, we pray. We pray Oh Lord.

For doctors, nurses and those with care of the sick, (pause) that they may be given love in their hearts and skill in their hands as they continue Christ’s healing work, bringing consolation to those in their care. (pause) Hear us, O Lord; heal us, we pray, we pray Oh Lord.

For those who are ill, (pause) that they may learn to wait for their recovery cheerfully, hopefully, and with confidence in the goodness of God and other people. (pause) Hear us, O Lord; heal us, we pray, we pray Oh Lord.

For an understanding of suffering, (pause) that we may always see in it the loving hands of Jesus, who wants us to be healed of all fears, even of death and dying. (pause) Hear us, O Lord; heal us, we pray we pray Oh Lord. We pray in silence for our own needs to the Lord who heals us.

PRIEST: Father, we pray to you knowing that you heal us every day of all our ills when we come to you. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Today’s Reflection:

Job laments: “My pain is more than I can bear. I can’t sleep at night. I shall not see happiness again. ”This is a cry we all feel within ourselves at some time or other in life. Maybe our hurt is not physical but emotional, such as a marriage in distress, a child’s rebellion or a friend’s betrayal and so on. When we feel pain, regardless of its sources, we want to join Job and say, “I shall never see happiness again. “This is a crisis of faith. Jesus comes into our world of suffering, takes us by the hand like He did with Simon’s mother-in-law, and heals us. Jesus sees that the deepest healing we all need is spiritual. It is in this context that we can best understand the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick that bring us spiritual healing, strength and peace. We must constantly ask of the grace to bear suffering patiently.

Personal Devotional

Pray as the spirit directs.
– Give use the grace to say Yes to every command of God like Mary

– Cast all your fear, cares and worries on Mary

Let Us Pray

Praise God in the words of Mary:
“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation.”