Sunday, February 8th, The
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
By Judy Morss
Job
7:1-4,6-7
Psalm 147
Letter of
Saint Paul to the Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23
Gospel
according to Mark 1:29-39
Job is in torment;
he is being tested by both God and Satan, as we are each day of our lives. Job cries
out that his "days come to an end without hope...I shall not see happiness
again." Yet when I read further
in this chapter (v 8-12), Job has turned to prayer and receives the gift of
humility and trust in God.
In Psalm
147, we are reminded that the Lord "heals the brokenhearted and binds up
their wounds" and to "Praise the Lord, for he is good." This
Psalm calls us to praise, to prayer.
As I
reflected on the readings of today, my thoughts kept coming back to the gospel
reading, Mark 1: 35. "Rising very early before dawn, He left and went off
to a deserted place, where he prayed."
The New Testament is filled with so many instances of Jesus going off to
pray. Sometimes, Jesus needed to get away from the crowds, to find peace and a
chance to gather His thoughts. Other
times, he needed to spend time with His Father.
As I think about the solace found in going off
to pray in a quiet place, I recognize that this is something I don't do nearly
often enough. I get tangled up in the things of life. I pray the rosary while I am driving
somewhere to do something. I pray while
I wash the dishes, fold clothes, etc. Even when I am in adoration, I find my
mind wandering. I am still looking for that quiet place where I can truly
pray. Finally, I have realized that
until I quiet myself, my body, my thoughts, my heart, my soul, I can never find
that deserted place where I can truly pray.
Lent is
rapidly approaching. I am not planning
on a huge list of what I am going to GIVE UP during Lent. Instead, I am going
to focus on finding that deserted place where I can pray. I do know that
deserted place is already inside me. I
merely need to ask the Lord to open that door and help me step inside. As we
enter the Lenten season, I pray that all of us can find that deserted place
where we can truly encounter our blessed Lord and Saviour.
Peace and
Blessings -- Judy
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