Lectio Sunday, february 4, 2024

First Reading: Job 7:1-4.6-7. The book of Job presents us with the drama of a righteous man who suffers for no apparent reason and who questions God about the reason for his situation. In this passage, Job expresses his anguish and despair before a life that becomes unbearable for him.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 146:1-6. The psalm contrasts Job’s attitude with that of the psalmist, who praises God for his goodness and power. The psalm reminds us that God is the creator and sustainer of all that exists, and that he is especially concerned for the poor and the afflicted.

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 9:16-19,22-23. The Apostle Paul shares with us his experience as a preacher of the Gospel, which for him is not a source of pride, but an obligation and a vocation. Paul does everything for everyone, adapting himself to different circumstances and persons, in order to win them to Christ.

Gospel: Mark 1:29-39. The evangelist Mark narrates the beginning of Jesus’ public activity in Galilee, where he performs signs of healing and liberation, and where he withdraws to pray in solitary places. Jesus shows his compassion for the sick and the possessed, and his fidelity to the will of the Father, who sends him to preach the Kingdom of God.

A new day begins and we wake up at dawn to listen and contemplate, both attitudes are fundamental to approach God and his will. Listening implies being attentive, receptive and willing to obey. Contemplating implies admiring, thanking and praising. Both attitudes help us to enter into communion with God and with others.

Listen

We approach a day with the Master where daily life is woven of Celebration, Service, Fraternity, Prayer, Mercy and Mission as we confront it in the Gospel proposed for the contemplation of this day: Mk 1:29 they leave the synagogue (Celebration); Mk 1:30 to meet Peter’s sick mother-in-law (Service); Mk 1:31 in Peter’s house Jesus cures his mother-in-law who sets about serving them (Fraternity); Mk 1:32 in the evening he cures the sick crowded at the door (Mercy); Mk 1:35 in the early morning he withdraws in silence to be with the Father (Prayer) and in the face of the restlessness of the people who are looking for him at dawn he responds to his disciples, let us go to other places (Mission) Mk 1:38 .  Each of these words shows us a facet of the love of Jesus and his self-giving, and invites us to imitate him in our concrete reality.

Contemplate

We could continue reflecting and delving into each gesture of Jesus from the six words that outline his day, but there is a detail that helps us to enter into the heart of God and be with Him, which is the goal of every prayer space. We fix our gaze on the verse Mk 1, 31 how Jesus not only works miracles but the particular way of relating with trust and predilection with the sick whom he cured; he approached her, took her by the hand and lifted her up. Later the story speaks of other healings, but this one in particular characterizes the gestures of Jesus which are those of the Father. We wonder what Peter’s mother-in-law could have seen or felt? There were no words, we only know that Jesus’ eyes and hands connected with her weakness and in his gestures the woman found the strength and support that made her get up to welcome, attend and serve Jesus and the disciples.

There is another implicit reality in this Gospel and although it is not entirely exposed, it is born as an irrefutable consequence, and it is that every person who meets Jesus and the face of the Father cannot keep silent about the joy of salvation, the announcement of what has been lived, the beating of the heart made words. It was a reality for Peter’s mother-in-law, her healing focused her, empowered her and turned her into a sacrament of God, testifying with her life the joy of having regained Hope and the meaning of life. Not only did she open the doors of her house to God and serve Jesus, but she also announced, invited and welcomed her neighbors. This tells us that Jesus not only restored her physical health, but also gave her a new spiritual life. This incorporation of Peter’s mother-in-law challenges us to renew our faith and our commitment because listening to the Master implies being willing to learn from him, to follow his teachings and to do his will. Allowing ourselves to meet his gaze implies recognizing his presence, his love and his action in our lives and in the lives of others.

Invitation:

Anyone who listens cannot remain silent. Recover your joy, listen to the Master and let yourself meet his gaze. Jesus met the gaze of the Father and his way of living helps us to question ourselves:

  • Is prayer the space where you find strength, consolation and the impetus to live the mission?
  • Does the surrender of Jesus in the daily life animate your daily life and is it necessary for you to live the celebration, prayer, fraternity, mercy, service, mission as aspects that we cannot neglect if we want to follow the example of Jesus?
  • What do you think of the statement he who listens to Jesus cannot remain silent?

Intention:

Ask the Father through the intercession of Jesus Christ that during this week you may feel his voice lifting you from fever and the joy of the encounter with him and the intimacy with the Father give you Comfort and Hope.

S. Mariulis Grehan, tc

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