Reflection - Ordinary Time 5th Sunday by Rev. Fr. Valan OMI

5th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Job 7: 1-4, 6-7/ 1Cor 9: 16-19, 22-23/ Mk 1: 29-39) Dear sisters and brothers in Christ Jesus, · “Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once””. (Mk 1:30) we see that the home was upset due to the illness of Simon’s mother-in-law. The disciples informed and brought to Jesus’ notice that someone (mother-in-law of Simon) was bedridden. Here the attitude of the disciples teaches us that we also need to take all our troubles, difficulties, and sufferings to Jesus. · “He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her” Mk 1:31). We see the attitude of Jesus that He was never tired of helping others. The need of others took precedence over his own desire for rest. In the Gospel of Mark, we read, “Some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man carried by four of them. And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay.” (Mk 2:3-4). Here, they bring their disappointments, tiredness, pain, and expectations everything to Jesus. We also see that Jesus responding to them, saying, “I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home. And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them” (Mk 2: 11-12). We see that Jesus helps everyone who comes to him. In the book Joshua, we read that after the death of Moses, Joshua was chosen to lead the people of Israel, he did not know what to do and how to lead the people to the right path. But the Lord spoke to him and giving him the confidence, “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you” (Joshua 1: 5) and “Be Strong and be courageous; the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1: 9). Jesus promises his help and presence to all who come to him. Let us also go frequently and regularly to him. Because he never disappoints us. He is ever ready to extend his help to us. · “And she began to serve them” (Mk1: 31b). We see the mother-in-law of Simon who was healed begin to serve them. It is a sign of gratitude. In our life, we have received innumerable blessings directly or indirectly from the Lord and from people. Are we grateful? What are we giving as gratitude? · “In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed” (Mk 1: 35). Incident The former president of America, Abraham Lincoln called his chief commandos of the army for an emergency meeting. The chief commandos gathered early in the morning to meet him. They waited for him to come out because they heard that he was talking with someone else. After some time, Abraham Lincoln came out alone. One of the chiefs asked him, it seemed that you were talking with someone, but “you are alone”. Lincoln showed them the statue of Jesus and said, “He is the person with whom I was talking”. Because he tells me, what to do, what not to do and how to do! Dear faithful, we are also called to speak with God every day. Jesus was left with no time because he was always surrounded by the people. He knew that if he was to meet people, he must first meet God. Dear Friends, if prayer was necessary for Jesus, \How much more must it be necessary for us the importance of prayer? Let us meet Jesus in and through our family prayer and personal prayer. Thank you, Almighty Father, Thank you Jesus, Praise You Holy Spirit for helping us to evaluate our life- Amen. Fr. VALAN, OMI