Daily Readings - Sun Feb 07 2021
Job
1"Has not man a hard service on earth, and are not his days like the days of a hired hand?2Like a slave who longs for the shadow, and like a hired hand who looks for his wages,3so I am allotted months of emptiness, and nights of misery are apportioned to me.4When I lie down I say, 'When shall I arise?' But the night is long, and I am full of tossing till the dawn.6My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle and come to their end without hope.7"Remember that my life is a breath; my eye will never again see good.
1 Corinthians
16For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!17For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship.18What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.19For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.22To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.23I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
Mark
29And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.30Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her.31And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.32That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons.33And the whole city was gathered together at the door.34And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.35And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.36And Simon and those who were with him searched for him,37and they found him and said to him, "Everyone is looking for you."38And he said to them, "Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out."39And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues 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.