Daily Catholic Mass Readings for February 4, 2024
First Reading: Job 7.1-4, 6-7
1"Does not man have hard service on earth? Are not his days like those of a hired man?2Like a slave longing for the evening shadows, or a hired man waiting eagerly for his wages,3so I have been allotted months of futility, and nights of misery have been assigned to me.4When I lie down I think, 'How long before I get up?' The night drags on, and I toss till dawn.6"My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and they come to an end without hope.7Remember, O God, that my life is but a breath; my eyes will never see happiness again.
Psalm 147
1Praise the LORD. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!2The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the exiles of Israel.3He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.4He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.5Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.6The LORD sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground.7Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make music to our God on the harp.8He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills.9He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call.10His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of a man;11the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.12Extol the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion,13for he strengthens the bars of your gates and blesses your people within you.14He grants peace to your borders and satisfies you with the finest of wheat.15He sends his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.16He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes.17He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can withstand his icy blast?18He sends his word and melts them; he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.19He has revealed his word to Jacob, his laws and decrees to Israel.20He has done this for no other nation; they do not know his laws. Praise the LORD.
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 9.16-19, 22-23
16Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!17If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me.18What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make use of my rights in preaching it.19Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.22To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
Gospel: Mark 1.29-39
29As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew.30Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her.31So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.32That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed.33The whole town gathered at the door,34and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.35Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.36Simon and his companions went to look for him,37and when they found him, they exclaimed: "Everyone is looking for you!"38Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else--to the nearby villages--so I can preach there also. That is why I have come."39So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving 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.