“She began to serve" (Mark 1:31)
In this Sunday's Gospel we continue to hear the first stories of
Jesus who heals the sick and afflicted of his time. The curious
thing about the service of Jesus for those who suffer is that when
he heals Simon, Peter's mother in law, she immediately began to
serve them. This good mother-in-law perhaps did not realize that
with her service she gave lessons to her son-in-law and those
who accompanied him. This woman gives us one of the great
lessons of early Christianity about what it means to be a disciple.
The vocation of the true disciples of Jesus is to serve and share
all that we have and all that we are with our least brothers and
sisters.
Today's readings are a progressive transition from despair to
hope. Indeed, Job, the character of the first reading has lost not
only his children but also his possessions and even his own
health. In his grief he exclaims: "When will I see happiness
again?" For Job, his life has become unbearable and he cannot
see the light that hope brings. That is why his complaint wants
to be a lament to God that perhaps hears his pain. For scholars
of this wisdom book, Job is the revelation of God in suffering.
Many of us can affirm that a God that allows pain is not the God
of the Christians. However, through this character it is possible
to see a first attempt that explains to us that God is in and
beyond my own suffering. We have to wait for Jesus, the
revelation of God, so that with his gestures, words and deeds we
can explain that God is together with those who are victimized
and impoverished at all times. Along the lines of hope is the
confession of the Apostle Paul. He feels called to preach the
Gospel that has been entrusted to him. Paul is aware of his
mission that leads him to be an apostle of hope for the weak and
as he himself affirms in this passage from the First Letter to the
Corinthians "he has become weak with the weak to win the
weak I have become all things to all men; that I might by all
means save some.” May the example of Paul, the apostle, lead
us to the desire to alleviate the suffering and bring Christ
comfort and consolation to our brothers and sisters who are in
need. The fullness of hope is only given to us in Jesus who
brought health to some of the sick and peace and tranquility to
those possessed by demons. Today Jesus is still sensitive to the
suffering of the afflicted of our society. He is still willing to
bring us peace. Saint Mark wants to portray in his Gospel a
Jesus that has no rest. Sure enough, the next morning, Jesus
retreats to a deserted place and prays to his Father God. He
returns, telling his disciples, “Let us go to the nearby villages
that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.”
Nowadays our Holy Father, Pope Francis, again and again tells
us that we are a Church on the run; that is, a Church that does
not stand still but one that is called to serve those who suffer
today. Our challenge is to be the light of hope to those who walk
alongside us. May our actions, desires and prayers be for the
worship of God and to the service of our least brothers and
sisters.
Fr. Hernán, S.J.