Daily Readings - Sun Feb 07 2021

¹The life of a man on the earth is a battle, and his days are like the days of a hired hand²Just as a servant desires the shade, and just as the hired hand looks forward to the end of his work³so also have I had empty months and have counted my burdensome nights⁴If I lie down to sleep, I will say, "When will I rise?" And next I will hope for the evening and will be filled with sorrows even until darkness⁶My days have passed by more quickly than threads are cut by a weaver, and they have been consumed without any hope⁷Remember that my life is wind, and my eye will not return to see good things

1 Corinthians

Chapter 9

¹⁶For if I preach the Gospel, it is not glory for me. For an obligation has been laid upon me. And woe to me, if I do not preach the Gospel¹⁷For if I do this willingly, I have a reward. But if I do this reluctantly, a dispensation is granted to me¹⁸And what, then, would be my reward? So, when preaching the Gospel, I should give the Gospel without taking, so that I may not misuse my authority in the Gospel¹⁹For when I was a free man to all, I made myself the servant of all, so that I might gain all the more²²To the weak, I became weak, so that I might gain the weak. To all, I became all, so that I might save all²³And I do everything for the sake of the Gospel, so that I may become its partner

Mark

Chapter 1

²⁹And soon after departing from the synagogue, they went into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John³⁰But the mother-in-law of Simon lay ill with a fever. And at once they told him about her³¹And drawing near to her, he raised her up, taking her by the hand. And immediately the fever left her, and she ministered to them³²Then, when evening arrived, after the sun had set, they brought to him all who had maladies and those who had demons³³And the entire city was gathered together at the door³⁴And he healed many who were troubled with various illnesses. And he cast out many demons, but he would not permit them to speak, because they knew him³⁵And rising up very early, departing, he went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed³⁶And Simon, and those who were with him, followed after him³⁷And when they had found him, they said to him, "For everyone is seeking you.³⁸And he said to them: "Let us go into the neighboring towns and cities, so that I may preach there also. Indeed, it was for this reason that I came.³⁹And he was preaching in their synagogues and throughout all of Galilee, and casting out demons

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter three distinct voices—Job, Paul, and Jesus—each offering a unique perspective on suffering, service, and the mission of God. The first reading from Job paints a vivid picture of human frailty and the struggle to find meaning in the midst of suffering. Job laments the brevity and hardship of life, comparing it to a battle and a fleeting wind. His words resonate deeply with anyone who has ever felt the weight of pain or the emptiness of hopelessness. Yet, even in his despair, Job’s honesty before God is a testament to the depth of his faith. The second reading from 1 Corinthians shifts the focus to the apostle Paul, who speaks of his calling to preach the Gospel. Unlike Job, Paul does not lament his circumstances but embraces his mission with a sense of duty and purpose. He becomes “all things to all people” to save as many as possible, showing us that true service involves self-sacrifice and adaptability. Paul’s words remind us that our struggles, like his, can be transformed into opportunities to serve others and to share in the work of God. In the Gospel, Mark presents Jesus as the embodiment of God’s compassion and power. After healing Peter’s mother-in-law and many others, Jesus rises early to pray, demonstrating his deep connection to the Father. His words, “Let us go to the neighboring towns…for this is why I came,” reveal his single-minded commitment to his mission. Jesus shows us that true service flows from intimacy with God and a willingness to go out to others in love. These readings invite us to reflect on how we respond to suffering and how we live out our call to serve. Like Job, we may face trials that test our faith, but like Paul, we can find purpose in sharing the Gospel and serving others. And like Jesus, we are called to minister with compassion and to stay rooted in prayer. May we, in our own struggles and joys, imitate Jesus by bringing light and healing to a world in need.