Broken

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/020418.cfm)  reminds me that God can turn our brokenness into greatness. 

In the first reading, we see Job broken. Why not, everything was taken away from him, except his life. Friends. Family. Health. Wealth. Almost everything. He did not know God’s purpose, or what will happen to him in the future. Then God assures us in the psalm that He heals the brokenhearted. He knows what we are going through. He can and will heal us. We just need to trust him and stay close to Him.

Paul was one of the greatest evangelist, if not the greatest, and we can see in the second reading he did not have it easy. He gave his all, to the point he became broken. He became one with sinners, with the weak. He gave up himself for the gospel. When he did this, God came to fill him up and used his brokenness to bring God to others. God used him mightily because he allowed himself to be filled up by God. 

This is what we see in the gospel. Jesus healed people. Peter's mother in law, and many more people who were sick or possessed by demons. People who were broken. He healed them. He made them whole. He brought God's healing and God's wholeness to them. 

A lot of us are also broken. There are problems that seem to take away the life and energy out of us. Hurts and pains seem to break us, to the point where we feel what Job felt – that we will not see happiness again. Today, we are reminded that God will heal us, and will even use us to bless others. We just have to do what Jesus did in the gospel, to pray often and stay close to him, so we will always be in tune with God.

May we allow God to heal our brokenness, to fill us, and use us for his purpose and his glory.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to love and serve you. Thank you for another Sunday. Lord, sorry for the times I let brokenness and problems get the best of me. Sorry for thinking you cannot do anything about them. I ask that you help me stay close and focused on you. I lift up to you my broken self, and I have faith that you will continue to fill me, and heal me. I know you will use me for your purpose  and your glory, so I will just stay In faith and trust you. Amen.

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

February 4, 2018

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 74

Reading 1 JB 7:1-4, 6-7

Job spoke, saying:
Is not man's life on earth a drudgery?
Are not his days those of hirelings?
He is a slave who longs for the shade,
a hireling who waits for his wages.
So I have been assigned months of misery,
and troubled nights have been allotted to me.
If in bed I say, "When shall I arise?"
then the night drags on;
I am filled with restlessness until the dawn.
My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle;
they come to an end without hope.
Remember that my life is like the wind;
I shall not see happiness again.

Responsorial Psalm PS 147:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

R. (cf. 3a) Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Praise the LORD, for he is good;
sing praise to our God, for he is gracious;
it is fitting to praise him.
The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem;
the dispersed of Israel he gathers.
R. Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
He tells the number of the stars;
he calls each by name.
R. Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
to his wisdom there is no limit.
The LORD sustains the lowly;
the wicked he casts to the ground.
R. Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Reading 2 1 COR 9:16-19, 22-23

Brothers and sisters:
If I preach the gospel, this is no reason for me to boast,
for an obligation has been imposed on me,
and woe to me if I do not preach it!
If I do so willingly, I have a recompense,
but if unwillingly, then I have been entrusted with a stewardship.
What then is my recompense?
That, when I preach,
I offer the gospel free of charge
so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

Although I am free in regard to all,
I have made myself a slave to all
so as to win over as many as possible.
To the weak I became weak, to win over the weak.
I have become all things to all, to save at least some.
All this I do for the sake of the gospel,
so that I too may have a share in it.

Alleluia MT 8:17

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Christ took away our infirmities
and bore our diseases.
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.