Jesus' Mission

02-07-2021Weekly Reflection

Job says: life, especially sickness, is a drudgery. The book of Job deals with the question and problem that many people struggle with: Why does God permit human suffering through death, sickness, and poverty? Up to this time, traditional Jewish belief that God rewards the just and punishes the evildoers. Thus, sufferings were considered a punishment from God. Job did not know much about the life after. God revealed this only at a later time in the Book of Wisdom. And more fully in the New Testament. Job did not understand it, but he will never doubt the justice and fairness of God.

The four parts of the Gospel today consist: First, Jesus heals the mother-in-law of Peter. Second, news spread of Jesus presence, He heals and casts out unclean spirits after sunset. Third, rising very early in the morning, Jesus withdraws to a deserted place to pray. Fourth, Jesus visits synagogues and cast out evil spirits.

The readings give us a wide range of human experience, from the darkness and hopelessness of Job, losing everything, to the joy of healing and freedom from evil spirits at the hands of Jesus.

The first reading opens so many questions in the mind and heart of Job. His family and friends could not give him any consolation. Because of the series of misfortunes and miseries, he cannot see any reason to go on. If Job visits modern-day counselors, they will probably diagnose him with a certain degree of depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. This is the present-day dark reality of life in a fallen world.

The Gospel, on the other hand, offers a more positive picture. The presence of Jesus brings healing and freedom from unclean spirits. Jesus did not come to condemn the world: but to save the fallen world. Early in His minis­try, Jesus proclaims the Gospel of God, He cures all the sick, and drives out unclean spirits. There is so much novelty in Jesus' ministry: people are awed by the power and authority of His preaching and teaching, unlike the Scribes, Pharisees, and many Rabbi. In the world flooded by miseries, He brings an ocean of love and hope. To the experience of suffering and despair, Jesus provides so much relief and hope. Praise the Lord who heals the brokenhearted.

Another element of the ministry of Jesus is the many exorcisms He performed, sometimes not permitting the demons to speak because they know who He is. Demons do whatever they can to destroy the plan of God for man. They attack subtly, distracting the mind and heart, to weaken our commitment. Let us learn from Jesus how to deal with these subtle attacks: He would not permit them to speak. In the same way, avoid any interior dialogue with any form of temptations. The best way to confront temptations is an immediate and decisive rejection of them. Do not even give a finger to the devil: because he will surely want to grab your whole being. Call on Jesus: He alone has the power to drive them out. And with peace and faith in our hearts, we proceed with vigilance with our day.

Today, the world is full of miseries, doubts, and despair. Believers of Christ must continue His mission. We can­not take the risk of running spiritually dry. There is so much work to do: we are proclaimers of the Word. Entrusted with the Word, we must believe what we read, teach/share what we believe, and practice what we teach.

Going back to St. Paul, his zeal and willingness to become all things to all men for the sake of their salvation is something to imitate. The Gospels reveal to us a healing, merciful, and compassionate Savior, Jesus Christ, who came to conquer all kinds of suffering and evil. The Gospel is the glad tiding and joy with Jesus, the Good News that we must share.