Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Job 7:1-4, 6-7/1Cor 9:16-19, 22-23/Mark 1:29-39
“Is not man’s life on earth drudgery?” These opening words of Job set the tone for a less than hope-filled reflection on life. We’ve all had those kinds of days (or weeks, or even months), haven’t we? When we can’t see the forest for the trees and it seems like there is no light at the end of the tunnel. Luckily for us—we know that however dark and dreary life may seem or how many lemons life throws at us—there IS hope and Jesus is His Name! This is good news!
St. Paul reminds us of this in his letter to the Corinthians. He doesn’t preach the gospel because of the promise of fame or fortune. He does not evangelize because he loves the adulation of those who hear his words. In fact, preaching has gotten Paul beaten, imprisoned, and run out of town—yet he keeps at it. Why? Because of the message! “Woe to me if I do not preach it!” he says.
I think we have forgotten why we need to preach the Gospel. It is not solely the job of the priests, bishops, or those tasked with ‘church work’. It is every single disciple’s vocation to spread the Good News. Sad to say, I have taught many a class or spoken to more than one group of teachers, catechists, and faithful asking the question: “If we are to preach the Good News—what is it?” The usual response is a deer-in-the-headlight look and the shrugging of shoulders. Our faith seems to have taken on the involvement of a spectator sport. It is now time that we come down from the stands and enter the playing field—for woe to us if we do not preach the gospel (we should all have John 3:16 memorized)!
Jesus tells us in Mark’s gospel He came to preach—that is His purpose. He preaches not only in words, but through His actions and it is through His actions that even the demons recognize Him. Following His death and resurrection, Jesus gives the great commission to His disciples—“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.* And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20). Jesus does not send His followers out unarmed. He sends the Holy Spirit to enkindle in their hearts a fire, zeal, and conviction that makes it impossible for them to not go forth and share the good news of salvation with all. So we have to ask today—where is the zeal? Where is the conviction?
Our Bishops are standing up against the erosion of religious freedom that has taken place over the past several years. It is coming to a head in what could be called a show-down between a government that has chosen to ignore the very Bill of Rights that is the foundation of our nation and the rights of a people to freely practice their religion. Lest we forget what the First Amendment to the Bill of Rights is, let me quote:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
As a people of faith, we cannot sit idly by while our Bishops and other religious leaders take up the fight. In the words of St. Paul—“Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel!” Woe to all of us if we do not speak out and have our voices be counted—for not only the rights and freedoms of our nation are at risk—but indeed, our very salvation!
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