FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
First Reading: Job 7:1-4, 6-7
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 147:1-6
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23
Gospel: Mark 1:29-39
The first reading today is taken from the Book of Job. It presents us the anguish of a suffering soul, his protestation to a God who seems to be absent. Why does the Church present us with Job’s expression of great pain early in the year’s liturgical calendar and only ten days to the beginning of Lent? I always find the Book of Job a useful preparation for Lent. A reading from the Book of Job appears only once in the Sunday scripture readings. Before the liturgical reform of the Second Vatican Council, we never got to hear the story of Job at Sunday mass.
Job was clearly expressing feelings that we all face at times. He speaks of a sleepless night. He speaks of feelings of loss of hope, months of misery, and so on. These feelings are not everyday occurrences, but they are real and everyone experiences them at times. The key to understanding this passage is to look at Job’s whole life. So, what is the Book about?
The main issue in the Book is the fact of suffering in the world. Everyone at one time or another has to deal with suffering. Suffering can come in the form of illness, loss of a loved one or even loss of property. Why is there suffering in the world? Suffering is a problem both for those who believe in God and those who do not. For those who do not believe in God, the event of suffering in the world proves the non-existence of a loving and compassionate God. For those who believe, it can sometimes be a stumbling block. How many have lost their faith because of their perceived undeserved suffering? Sometimes we question and speak against God or doubt His love for us. If God is a loving and compassionate God, why does He allow suffering in the world? If He is a just God, why does the innocent suffer? These are questions the Book of Job sets out to answer.
Before the Book of Job was written (between 7th and 4th BC), the traditional or orthodox answer to the question of suffering was that all suffering including death is the result of sin. Remember the question the disciples posed to Jesus in John chapter 9: 2 when they saw a man who was born blind – “who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? Some prosperity Gospel preachers still equate righteousness with material prosperity on the one hand; and then sin and suffering on the other hand. The book of Job is actually a theodicy. Theodicy is a rational attempt to justify the existence of God especially in the face of evil in the world. The book of Job is an attempt to justify the ways of God to man. It is the story of how God allowed Satan to test the most righteous man on earth. It turned out to be a contest between God and Satan; God’s certainty of victory over Satan and Satan’s unrelenting testing of Job. It seemed God is absent but He is indeed present with His love.
To the question why there is suffering in the world and why the innocent suffers, the Book of Job offers a non-traditional answer. God created a world of undeserved and unremitted suffering in order to make possible the highest form of human love, a completely selfless love. If human beings know with certainty that God rewards those who love and serve Him, then they will serve Him for what they will get from Him and not out of love for Him. You can work in a company that you don’t like the owner and the boss. You keep working to earn some money. So, underserved evil or suffering is morally necessary in order to sever any connection between righteousness and material reward. Selfless love is the reason God created a world of underserved and unremitted suffering.
It is important to know that although Job felt this much pain, it did not direct his decisions. He did not give in to ultimate despair, he persevered, and it paid off. He stayed faithful to God in the face of the tragedy of losing everything that is precious to him. He never lost faith and hope in God. In his darkest hour, even his friends came to him telling him he was being punished by God and that all was lost to him, but he wouldn’t listen. He said, “the Lord gives, and the Lord takes away, blessed the name of the Lord.” He praised God for the good things he received in life and when they were taken away from him, he continued to bless and praise the Lord. This is the most central lesson from the life of Job. He did not allow the despair he was tempted with stop him from praising and worshipping God. He praised Him in all things. The life of Job is a powerful lesson and inspiration for all of us who suffer one tragedy or the other, no matter how heavy. This is because we can relate to him and learn from his perseverance in hope.
Think about what would have happened if Job failed. Satan would have won God. God’s creation of man would have been a failed project because He would have been a creator of man who is incapable of loving Him unconditionally. What is happening in the life of Job also happens in the life of every true believer. There is a contest between God and Satan. Satan has the permission to test us. God is expecting that we will overcome Satan and so He does not give up on us even at times when we are tempted to give up on ourselves. In His compassion, He continues to offer us new opportunities that we may overcome Satan and love Him with a selfless love.
Happy Sunday
Fr Chidi Onwuka msscc