Fourth Sunday Ordinary

Fourth Sunday Ordinary
January 29, 2006
"Is not man’s life on earth a drudgery? ... 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... (Job 7: 1-7). "He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her... He cured many who were sick with various diseases... (Mark 1:29-39)"

Job laments his profound misfortune. He has lost everything that could possibly give his life any meaning: family, wealth, good reputation, health. His words about the drudgery of life on earth have reflected the lament of suffering humanity through the centuries before and since. As with many of us, his nights were fraught with exaggerated doubts and fears. The ancient monks (and a few even today) rose during the night to pray and keep watch until the safety of morning light. I often have this experience of waking during the night. I find great comfort in this practice of prayer and meditation on the light of the Holy Spirit, the generosity and closeness of family and friends, God's mercy on those who are in trouble, and on suffering humanity in general.

Job's story has a tentative ending, offering little hope but patient endurance and faithfulness. The question of why this must be the condition of our lives has never been answered satisfactorily even by our best philosophers and theologians. In fact, those "friends" of Job who attempt to offer explanations for his misfortune succeeded only in further alienating him. Most of us have attempted to do something similar for people trying to deal with suffering by reassurances of this or that. It may make the one doing the reassuring feel better. The last thing someone needs is to be told why this is happening, or that it will be all better soon. We make it better by not trying to make it better. Most often simply being with others in their suffering is the most comforting, and most difficult, thing we can do.

Jesus relieves the pain of this suffering woman. We are told that he did so for many others as well. The cure of physical affliction was only the immediately obvious, outward and temporary result of God's love. More lasting is the cure of soul which brings hope and optimism out of despair. God's promise is that we are not alone. Finally in some way beyond our present experience our lives will be very different. Jesus is the embodiment of this promise, and the only really satisfying answer to the mystery of the universal experience of human suffering.

Many of us receive this healing touch daily from people who love us from close-up and far away. This is certainly an extension of the touch Jesus gives to this woman. These are the most reassuring contacts in our lives and the ones which bring hope out of what would otherwise be meaningless drudgery.