The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to explore the difficult times of our life and consider how prayer and contemplation may have raised our spirit to continue our mission.
In the reading from the Book of Job, he expresses that suffering is without end.
* [7:1] Drudgery: taken by some to refer to military service; cf. also 14:14. (Job, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 147 praises God’s Care for Jerusalem.
* [Psalm 147] The hymn is divided into three sections by the calls to praise in Ps 147:1, 7, 12. The first section praises the powerful creator who restores exiled Judah (Ps 147:1–6); the second section, the creator who provides food to animals and human beings; the third and climactic section exhorts the holy city to recognize it has been re-created and made the place of disclosure for God’s word, a word as life-giving as water. (Psalms, PSALM 147, n.d.)
The reading from the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians shares his reason for not using his rights as he seeks to be all things to all.
* [9:15–18] Paul now assigns a more personal motive to his nonuse of his right to support. His preaching is not a service spontaneously undertaken on his part but a stewardship imposed by a sort of divine compulsion. Yet to merit any reward he must bring some spontaneous quality to his service, and this he does by freely renouncing his right to support. The material here is quite similar to that contained in Paul’s “defense” at 2 Cor 11:5–12; 12:11–18.
* [9:19–23] In a rhetorically balanced series of statements Paul expands and generalizes the picture of his behavior and explores the paradox of apostolic freedom. It is not essentially freedom from restraint but freedom for service—a possibility of constructive activity. (1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 9, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus heals many at Simon’s house and begins a preaching tour in Galilee.
* [1:21–45] The account of a single day’s ministry of Jesus on a sabbath in and outside the synagogue of Capernaum (Mk 1:21–31) combines teaching and miracles of exorcism and healing. Mention is not made of the content of the teaching but of the effect of astonishment and alarm on the people. Jesus’ teaching with authority, making an absolute claim on the hearer, was in the best tradition of the ancient prophets, not of the scribes. The narrative continues with events that evening (Mk 1:32–34; see notes on Mt 8:14–17) and the next day (Mk 1:35–39). The cleansing in Mk 1:40–45 stands as an isolated story. (Mark, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)
Carol Zuegner comments that our own lives often become too full as well and can drain us in mind, body and spirit. Even when it’s good work or family or things we like do to, we need to step back and find that quiet place to pray and reflect.
We can turn to Jesus to ask him to refill those reserves that are running on empty. The gospel doesn’t say what Jesus prayed about. I would guess he asked for help to continue to do the work, for patience when it seemed too many people surrounded him, for understanding when the demands seem to be too much. I have much the same prayer often when I am overwhelmed by work, family demands and my own procrastination. I am lucky to love what I do and to love my family, but sometimes, it’s overwhelming. Taking that time to pray and reflect offers a spiritual and emotional boost. And, then, as Jesus did, I get back to work and juggling responsibilities. (Zuegner, 2024)
Don Schwager quotes “The habit of prayer,” by Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD).
"Jesus prayed and did not pray in vain, since he received what he asked for in prayer when he might have done so without prayer. If so, who among us would neglect to pray? Mark says that 'in the morning, a great while before day, he rose and went out to a lonely place, and there he prayed' (Mark 1:35). And Luke says, 'He was praying in a certain place, and when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray,"' (Luke 11:1) and elsewhere, 'And all night he continued in prayer to God' (Luke 6:12). And John records his prayer, saying, 'When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you"' (John 17:1). The same Evangelist writes that the Lord said that he knew 'you hear me always' (John 11:42). All this shows that the one who prays always is always heard." (excerpt from ON PRAYER 13.1) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Job 7:1-4, 6-7 notes that the next morning, Jesus told the disciples that he was going to other villages in Galilee to preach and heal. “For this purpose have I come” (Mark 1:38). Jesus came to give us hope: to heal us of our sins and free us from the power of death. He came to give us life in him, a life that begins now but will last into eternity.
Perhaps you are tempted to feel hopeless about a difficult situation in your life. Or maybe you’re discouraged about what the future will hold. But remember what Jesus said: he came for a purpose, and that purpose is being fulfilled in your life and in the world even now. He is the horizon you can look to whenever you are tempted to give up hope. May we always keep our eyes on him!
“Jesus, you are my hope, now and forever.” (Meditation on Job 7:1-4, 6-7, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the expression of Job that life is a drudgery which he continues to suffer. Paul describes his mission to the Corinthians and we note the reward for doing good is the ability to do good. Friar Jude suggests that the account of the first day of Jesus at Capernaum is from an eyewitness as Jesus' ministry is defined as sharing the Good News wherever they can.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, describes how the gospel offers us a new story. Culture forms us much more than the gospel. It seems we have kept the basic storyline of human history in place rather than allow the gospel to reframe and redirect the story. Except for those who have experienced grace at their core, Christianity has not created a new story, “a new mind” (Romans 12:2), or a “new self” (Ephesians 4:24). The old and tired win/lose scenarios seem to be in our cultural hard drive. The experience of grace at the core of reality is much more imaginative and installs new win/win programs in our psyche, but has been neglected and unrecognized by most of Christianity.
The great traditions give name, shape, and ultimate direction to what our heart inherently knows from other sources. This is not new or unorthodox but exactly what Paul taught: “Ever since God created the world, God’s everlasting power and divinity—however invisible—have been there for the mind to see in the things of creation” (Romans 1:20). Similarly, as the Hebrew Scriptures say, “It is not beyond your strength or beyond your reach. It is not in the heavens, so that you need to ask, ‘Who will go up to heaven and bring it down to us?’ Nor is it beyond the seas, so that you need to ask, ‘Who will cross the seas and bring it back to us?’ No, the word is very near to you, it is in your mouth and in your heart” (Deuteronomy 30:11–14). We must honor the infinite mystery of our own life’s journey to recognize God in it. Or is it the other way around? It seems that God is not going to let us get close unless we bring all of ourselves—in love—including our brokenness. That’s why the Good News really is good news. Nothing is wasted. [2] (Rohr, 2024)
When we experience weariness in life’s journey, we are wise to seek the consolation of the Spirit in prayer and contemplation that will restart the joy in our mission of love, compassion, and service.
References
Job, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved February 4, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/job/7?1
Mark, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved February 4, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/1?29
Meditation on Job 7:1-4, 6-7. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved February 4, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/02/04/888758/
1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 9. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 4, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/9?16
Psalms, PSALM 147. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 4, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/147?1
Rohr, R. (2024, February 4). The Good News Story — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved February 4, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-good-news-story/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Jesus Healed Many Who Were Sick. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved February 4, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=feb4
Zuegner, C. (2024, February 4). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved February 4, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/020424.html
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