For This
Purpose
If
in bed I say, "When shall I arise?" then the night drags on;
I am filled with restlessness until the dawn. My days are swifter than a
weaver's shuttle; they come to an end without hope. Remember that
my life is like the wind; I shall not see happiness again. Job
7:6-7
Although
I am free in regard to all, I have made myself a slave to all so
as to win over as many as possible. To the weak I became weak, to win
over the weak. I have become all things to all, to save at least some.
All this I do for the sake of the gospel, so that I too may have a share
in it. 1 Corinthians 9:19, 22-23
Rising
very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place,
where he prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him and
on finding him said, "Everyone is looking for you." He told
them, "Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there
also. For this purpose, have I come." So, he went into their
synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of
Galilee. Mark 1:35-39
Piety
Help
me, Jesus, with my impatience with my family. Let me not nag at those I love so
much. Heal my lack of compassion for them.
Touch
my heart, Jesus. Give me the selfless love I need in my marriage not to 'keep
score.' Only with your help can I continue to be loving, even when it feels
like some days I am the only one carrying my marriage.
Jesus,
I become afraid of failing, and I feel like one of those people lying on a mat,
waiting for you to touch my life. When I sense your healing presence coming
close, I roll away from you, so you don't see me. Give me the courage I need to
ask for your healing and to get up and answer your call for me to serve. Amen. [i]
Study
Let's
start in the middle of today's readings.
In addressing the people of Corinth, Paul explores the paradox of
"apostolic freedom." It is not primarily freedom from restraint –
like slavery -- but freedom for service, an activity in our mission for which nothing else can get in the way.
That
explanation makes today's readings from the Good News come into sharp
focus. As we trace Jesus around, there
is no rest for the weary. First, he
heads over to Peter's house. The passage
does not explain why Jesus is there. I
assume he was there to take a break from the day's work. However, upon arrival, they find Peter's
mother-in-law sick. So, Jesus gets to
work healing her.
One
good deed deserves another: as soon as they finish, the people bring all kinds
of people to him for healing throughout the night. Jesus gets up early before his hosts and
heads off to a deserted place to pray.
Prayer is how Jesus recharges his battery. When Peter finds him, Jesus is ready for his
next "job."
Speaking
of Job, how does he fit into all this?
Remember, Job's piety when first we meet him. Satan has tried to recruit him to the
"dark side of the force." Job's inherent goodness relieves the Lord
of any worry that Satan will be successful. ("In the land of Uz, there was
a blameless and upright man named Job, who feared God and avoided evil. Job
1:1)
Satan
does his duty three-fold. First, the
Sabeans steal his oxen and donkeys.
Then, the Chaldeans make off with all his camels. Finally, Satan sends a strong wind that
knocks down the house where Job's family were having dinner, killing his seven
sons and daughters.
How did
Job react? Did Satan succeed in winning
him over? Not hardly.
Then
Job arose and tore his cloak and cut off his hair. He fell to the ground and
worshiped. He said, "Naked I came
forth from my mother's womb, and naked shall I go back there. The LORD gave,
and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD!" In all this
Job did not sin, nor did he charge God with wrong. (Job 1:20-22)
Job
laments with his friends, but in the end, Job knows that he has no "Get
out of Jail Free" card. What
affects others will affect him. His
faith is not a pass on the intervention of evil from the world into his life.
His belief is the path through which he can make sense of such acts. Faith is
here to help us through those. Whether
the illness affects Peter's mother-in-law or the people in the village, Jesus
knows that he is here to be free to serve others.
Action
Where
are you called to serve this week? Where will you meet Jesus?
Put
yourself into today's Gospel and imagine showing up at Peter's house after
sunset. You have been waiting in line
for hours. Finally, you get to the front of the communion line and come
face-to-face with the Body of Christ.
With loving eyes, Jesus looks at you and asks, "Where do you need
healing? Where can I be with you?"[ii]
You
walk away, and you face the world through Him, with Him and in Him because He
is now a part of you. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment