5th Sunday of Ordinary Time(B)Theme: Healing Touch
All the readings of today speak about the healing power of God. In today’s liturgy we shall see in depth. Today’s first reading is taken from the book of Job, it describes the dimensions of human suffering. This book was written about 500 years before the birth of Jesus. Job had been blessed with seven sons and three daughters it was a large flock. But when he least expected the misfortune had stuck him, his children all died, his possession were taken away, house was collapsed, what is worst was he had developed a skin disease from top to bottom had boils on his body. And skin disease from head to foot and his wife had turned away from him. He had physical pain and suffered mental anguish, he felt powerlessness and joylessness during. The author says that Job was not a sinner then why he had to suffer so much? Jesus did not sin but He had to suffer and face the cruel death. Three of his friends visited Job when he was sick and said it is because of your sins that you are suffering. There is a saying don’t add insult to injury. But Job answered to each of his accusers that he was innocent. Like everyone he put question to himself why should God allow this misfortune in my life? At the end rather than asking questions to God he decided to put his trust in the Lord and abandoned himself to his will. In return for his trust God gave him back whatever he had lost and became happy once again. St Paul also had lot of sufferings in his mission, the reason was his own friends showed ingratitude to him, however he did not lock himself into depression instead he turned to Jesus for help just like Job who turned to God for help. According to today’s gospel soon after healing the man who was possessed in Capernaum on the Sabbath day, Jesus went to Peter’s mother in law’s house.
The purpose of Peter’s invitation
The purpose for the invitation was to ask Jesus to heal Peter’s mother in law. Peter and also other disciples thought that if Jesus could heal the possessed man was it difficult to heal a sick woman who was having high temperature? Peter believed in Jesus that’s why he took Him to heal his mother in law. When he was invited to heal her, He did not show any irritability or exhaustion. Jesus went to the room of the sick person along with his disciples touched her and healed her completely.
Mk 1: 41 Jesus cleanses a leper through his touch
Mk 3: 10 Jesus healed many people, people went to touch him for healing
Mk 5: 27 A woman who had haemorrhage was healed through her touch
1. The proof of cure is demonstrated with the person healed. Immediately she started serving Jesus and his disciples. Healed persons should use their healed bodies to serve God and His people.
2. This action shows that she was the perfect example of “Saved to Serve.”
Sometimes with all the available drugs, with latest medical equipments, the doctors are unable to cure the sick persons where as Jesus he restored the person to good health. One thing we need to keep in mind that Jesus’ ministry was not restricted to one place, or one territory rather His mission is for all. “Come on me all you that are weary and carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest (Mt 11: 28).
Dear Friends let us remember that
1. Sickness is meant to bring us closer to God
2. Sickness brings God closer to us.
Fr. Selvakumar SMM