Wednesday January 13

First Week In Ordinary Time

 

A COMPASSIONATE BROTHER         

 

Introduction

      One cannot really understand the sufferings of others without having passed through suffering. Try to tell a husband who has lost his wife or someone who has met an accident, “I know what you are suffering,” or “It is not so bad,” and he will answer, or at least think, “You don’t know, because it is not you who suffer.” Jesus, says Paul’s disciple, could be compassionate and understand us because he suffered for us and became one of us.

      The gospel shows this compassion of Jesus to those afflicted with all sorts of ills, to the brokenhearted. He is committed against death and misery. Isn’t that the mission he entrusts also to us today?

 

Opening Prayer

Lord God, compassionate Father,
every day we meet people who suffer,
who have been tried hard in life,
who have encountered evil and pain.
What shall we say to them?
Let us like Jesus, try to understand the pains
of our neighbor in need
feel with them, and be reliable friends,
perhaps in respectful silence,
on account of him who suffered our pains
and shared in our ills,
Jesus Christ, our Lord.

 

Reading 1: Heb 2:14-18

Since the children share in blood and Flesh,
Jesus likewise shared in them,
that through death he might destroy the one
who has the power of death, that is, the Devil,
and free those who through fear of death
had been subject to slavery all their life.
Surely he did not help angels
but rather the descendants of Abraham;
therefore, he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every way,
that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God
to expiate the sins of the people.
Because he himself was tested through what he suffered,
he is able to help those who are being tested.

 

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9

(8a) The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, invoke his name;
make known among the nations his deeds.
Sing to him, sing his praise,
proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Glory in his holy name;
rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!
Look to the LORD in his strength;
seek to serve him constantly.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
throughout the earth his judgments prevail.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

Alleluia: Jn 10:27

Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord.
I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

 

Gospel: Mk 1:29-39

On leaving the synagogue
Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John.
Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever.
They immediately told him about her.
He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up.
Then the fever left her and she waited on them.

When it was evening, after sunset,
they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons.
The whole town was gathered at the door.
He cured many who were sick with various diseases,
and he drove out many demons,
not permitting them to speak because they knew him.
Rising very early before dawn,
he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.
Simon and those who were with him pursued him
and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.”
He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages
that I may preach there also.
For this purpose have I come.”
So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons
throughout the whole of Galilee.

 

Intercessions:

–         For all who preach the Gospel, that they may speak the Good News of Christ in the light of the people’s everyday life and needs, we pray:

–         For all who care for the sick, that they may never tire of treating them with personal attention and infinite respect, as they would do for the Lord himself, we pray:

–         For our Christian communities, that we may be of one heart and soul and not to allow any among us to be in need, we pray:

 

Prayer over the Gifts

God, our Father,
in these signs of bread and wine,
you let again come among us
him who is compassionate and reliable
because he shared in our death and pain,
your Son, Jesus Christ.
Let every bit of anguish and grief
bring us a deeper understanding of ourselves,
of life and of our neighbor
and help us to be closer to your Son,
who is our Lord, for ever and ever.

 

Prayer after Communion

God, our Father,
we have a friend and brother
who has been tried and tested
as we are, put to the test at times.
He has been here with us;
we have taken part in his sacrifice.
Give us now his Spirit of strength
to stand firm in our trials,
to grow through them as human beings and Christians,
and to stand by the side of those
who are submerged in suffering.
May this be our way of sharing in everyday life
in the sacrifice of your Son,
Jesus Christ, our Lord.

 

Blessing

Who can understand better our pain and suffering than the Son of God, who went through our temptations, our suffering, our death for our sake. He knows and stands by our side in our difficult moments. May Almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

 

Commentary

The world doesn’t revolve around ME Or YOU
Imagine you walking into the office, and someone runs in saying, “Everyone’s looking for you!—Where have you been?”
What would be your first response? What’s the first thing you would do?
If it were to me, the first thing I would do is to compile a list of who is looking for me, prioritize according to need (and influence or prominence…), and I get to work. Perhaps even skip lunch if the list is a long one.
But, in Mark chapter 1, when the disciples tell him that there’s a long line of people outside waiting to be healed and comforted, Jesus picks up and moves on to another place. He moves on. AFTER taking the time to get up so early in the morning that it’s still dark, so that he might find a deserted place to pray.
Couldn’t he have foregone the early morning prayer session and opened the office a little early that day? Couldn’t he have stuck around a little while longer, and alleviated some more of the hurt in that place? Did he have to go so quickly?
We have two great lessons from the Gospel today: We may have numerous things to do as per our works schedule – In the office, at home and among friends and in the Church. Jesus tells us how important it is to take care of our spiritual relationship with our Heavenly Father. I have an important job, but that should not be at the expense of my relationship with God. Find time for God and be with him so that His Holy Spirit would guide our ways in our places of work and life.
The second lesson Jesus demonstrates is that we don’t have to do it all. Sometimes we have to move on. Sometimes you just have to pick up and go where the Spirit sends you, even if it means people are still going to be in need. Because, honestly, there are always going to be people in need. How often do we object when we get a transfer from our places of work or Mission. We feel that we have a lot more to do there and the people there, need us. But, today’s gospel teaches us a totally different way of thinking about existence, career, and ministry. It demonstrates so clearly that the world doesn’t revolve around ME Or YOU.
We are more than the tasks we accomplish.
And, that waking up before dawn and finding a quiet place to connect with God is sometimes the most important thing we can do.