Readings:

Jb 7:1-4, 6-7; Ps. 147; 1 Cor. 9:16-19, 22-23; Mk. 1:29-39

(Audio recorded live, 6 February 2021)

In the midst of the challenges that have come to us in the form of a global pandemic, soon going on a year of social distancing, hand sanitizing, and loved ones getting sick, or sadly, even dying, it is all too easy to relate to the suffering of Job in today’s first reading. He says, “I have been assigned months of misery, and troubled nights have been allotted to me…Remember that my life is like the wind; I shall not see happiness again.” His words are as that of one who has all but given up on life, unable to comprehend the terrible things that have happened to him and his family. How many of us feel this way today? Yet, in the midst of it all, we are here, at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Despite nearly a year of dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass; despite whatever risk of illness; and perhaps, despite the misunderstanding of loved ones, we return to this place every week because we all know that there is only one true cure for what plagues us, only one true remedy, one true medicine, which is Christ, in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. Our homebound are even celebrating spiritual communion from home, as we have done the best we can to ensure our parish family can stay connected to the Mass. And even though our reading from the Book of Job may seem rather defeatest, our presence here is anything but that, because we realize what St. Paul says in our second reading, that what we do, we do for the sake of the gospel, so that we too, may have a share in it. That is the joy of the Eucharist—that in spite of it all, we continue to give thanks to God.

We all know how difficult things have been, but we do not have to give in to despair, like Job, rather, we stand up strong, filled with the Good News of the Gospel and the Spirit of Christ.

When Jesus entered the home of Simon and Andrew, they told him Simon’s mother-in-law was sick with a fever. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. There is a pattern here. The disciples tell Jesus about the sick person and Jesus touches them and they are healed. The power of being touched by Jesus ought not to be overlooked, for it is the same power that has sustained each of us throughout the last year, and will continue to sustain us to eternal life.

Jesus says, “For this purpose have I come.” To go on, as he says, to the nearby villages, and to preach there also, to heal their sick, and to raise them up. In other words, Christ himself, the very embodiment of the Good News, desires to share it with all the world. And just as Jesus commissions the disciples to go teach all nations, and as he compells St. Paul to become all things so as to save at least some, so too, does he inspire each of us to be his messengers in the world today. Messengers of faith, hope, and love, in a world desperately in need of healing.

And so, as we turn to the celebration of the Eucharist, the very tangible sign of Jesus’ presence among us, may he touch each of us, and bring healing to our hearts so that we may bring that healing to the world.

Given during the COVID-19 pandemic.