Commentary: This lament of Job’s seems hopeless. It is an extremely downtrodden look at life. And if we know the story of Job we may understand why he had such a sour outlook on life. He had lost all of property and his children in horrible tragedies. The story of Job, in fact, is a tragedy in that he suffered greatly, being tested in his faith as a result. In the end, basically everything Job had was taken away from him. He lost his family, his friends, his possessions, his health, etc. Yet, Job remained faithful to God in the midst of all these trials. In fact, he exclaimed, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). The narrator then explains, “In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong” (Job 1:22). Job was a righteous man who suffered great tragedy yet remained faithful to God. It is within this context that we must understand today his lament in today’s reading. His statements are an honest reflection of how he felt: utterly dismayed, like a slave in bondage, restless, etc. We may feel like Job at times. We suffer tragedies too. In the midst of those it’s okay to be honest with God and others about the great challenge of our situation. At the same time, let us follow the example of Job in trusting in God.
Commentary: The Apostle Paul here speaks of his calling to preach the Gospel, which is the good news of Jesus Christ. This is his mission in life; it is his vocation given to him by God. Therefore, in his mind, it is not optional for him to do so. It is his very obligation that has consequences if he does not obey, for it is not his own calling but a calling given to him by God. Yet, he “willingly” fulfills this “obligation,” not seeking a reward or any sort of payment for his work, nor boasting in it. He preaches the Gospel out of a desire to serve the Lord, knowing that doing the will of God is what is best for him and for others. In preaching the Gospel, he explains, “I have become all things to all, to save at least some.” Paul seeks to relate to those he ministers to. In essence, he seeks to put himself in their shoes. By doing so he does not dilute the message of the Gospel but simply packages it in a way that is more accessible to the various people he is ministering to. Like Paul, we are all called, by virtue of our baptism, to preach the Gospel. This means we are called to live out and share the good news of Jesus Christ with those around us. In doing so, let us follow the example of Paul to “become all things to all,” seeking to meet people where they are at and lead them through the power of the Holy Spirit to Christ.
Commentary: Today’s Gospel reading picks up in the Gospel of Mark where we left off last week. Last week we heard about Jesus exercising his authority and power through casting out a demon from a possessed man. This week we hear about Jesus continuing to perform miracles. First, he healed Simon’s mother-in-law of her fever. Simon is the apostle Peter. This account not only shows the power and authority of Jesus but also gives us a bit of glimpse into the family life of this key apostle. Next, the word gets out and the whole town brings those who are sick or possessed by demons to him. Jesus continues to illustrate his authority by healing the masses. Through Jesus’s miracles he revealed his identity as the Messiah and God in the flesh. It is through His divine nature that he performed these miracles. Jesus continued to preach, heal, and set free those afflicted by evil throughout His earthly ministry. In doing so, he prepared the way for His ultimate demonstration of His divine power and authority in dying and rising from the dead to bring the ultimate healing and freedom from the affliction of sin in our lives. Let us, therefore, trust in his saving power.
Taking it Home:
What tragedies have you faced recently in life? Whether big or small, we all face tragedies that can seem overwhelming and leave us feeling hopeless. Yet, we learn in today’s Gospel that God has the power to overcome anything. Whatever we are going through, we can trust in God’s power, like Job did, and have the assurance that He has everything in control.