9 Feb
Sun
5th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)
(Psalter Week I)
Job 7:1-4, 6-7
Ps. 147:1-2,3-4,5-6 1Cor 9:16-19,22-23
Mk 1:29-39
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The Bible is more like a library than a single book: there is a great variety of books contained in it. Hence, even though the ultimate author of the Bible is God, there are many humans authors. It is only to be expected, then, that these authors will express a great variety of viewpoints about many different topics, even such important topics as death and life. Indeed, even within the same book we can meet different responses to the same question.

In today's first reading, Job's attitude to life is characterized by a series of quite negative words: drudgery, hireling, slave, misery, lack of hope: "I shall not see happiness again". We would do an injustice to the writer and to God's revelation if we were to think that Job has nothing positive to say. Later on, we shall come upon his magnificent declaration of faith and its consequent hope: "I know that my redeemer lives and has stood upon the earth".

Perhaps Scripture is teaching us that our life can be quite a mixture of both darkness and light, and that we must strive to come to the light through the days of darkness that may come upon us. Inspired by the words of the responsorial Psalm, let us pray:



Lord, heal us when we are broken-hearted, bind up our wounds.

DAILY OFFERING
Eternal Father, I offer You everything I do this day; my thoughts, words, joys and sufferings. Grant that, vivified by the Holy Spirit and united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, my life this day may be of service to You and to others. I also pray that all those preparing for marriage discover in Sacrament the source of Christ's grace for living a fithful and fruitful love. Amen.

PRAYING WITH THE CHURCH
INTENTION
That all Christians, sensitive to the distressing condition of the peoples who are still suffering from hunger and thirst, may be moved to greater solidarity towards their brothers.
Elaboration

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