Daily Readings - Sun Feb 04 2024

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 yet interconnected narratives that invite us to reflect on suffering, service, and the mission of Christ. The first reading from Job paints a vivid picture of a man overwhelmed by suffering, feeling his life to be a relentless battle devoid of hope. Job's lament reminds us of the human experience of pain and the struggle to find meaning amidst hardship. In the second reading, St. Paul shares his own burden, emphasizing that his preaching is not a choice but an obligation—a stewardship entrusted to him by God. He humbles himself, becoming all things to all people, to bring the Gospel to a world in need. Finally, the Gospel presents Jesus as the compassionate healer and preacher, demonstrating the heart of his mission: to serve, to heal, and to proclaim the Good News. These readings converge on the theme of selfless service and trust in God's plan. Job, though suffering, maintains his faith, teaching us to trust even when we cannot understand. Paul's willingness to adapt and serve others mirrors Jesus' own mission of love and redemption. Jesus, in turn, shows us that true authority is expressed through service, not power. His healings and preaching reveal God's desire to restore and redeem His people. In our daily lives, these readings challenge us to embrace our own crosses with faith and to serve others with love. Like Paul, we are called to be stewards of the Gospel, sharing it through our words and actions. Like Jesus, we are invited to reach out to those in need, offering healing and hope. Let us trust in God's plan, even when the road is difficult, and let us strive to be instruments of His love in the world.