5th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Job 7:1-4,6-7
1 Cor 9:16-19,22-23
Mk 1:29-39
He went to her, took her by the hand and helped her up. And the fever left her and she began to wait on them.
I am someone who likes processes and structure. Even while training for a particular race, I have to rely on a structured training plan that tells me what workout to do on a particular day. It’s not to say that I am not adaptable or resistant to change. Just that I enjoy some order in the chaos that I sometimes find myself in.
In today’s Gospel passage, I feel very re-assured. Why? It provides me a 5-step process of being ‘right with God’. It gives me the assurance that God is always coming towards us, even if we want it or not, even when we feel that we are not deserving of His love and mercy. So, regardless of whatever state of life that we are in, or however sinful we feel, or however far away from God we think we are, God constantly comes to us. We only have to let Him in. And accept his outstretched hand.
He is not only always close to us, but He wants a personal relationship with us. Holding us, taking us by the hand to walk along His paths. Even if we sin and distance ourselves from Him, He will always come to us, desiring to take us by the hand to walk together, or even carrying us if the journey is difficult; as the ‘Footprints’ story tells us. How can we build this personal, intimate relationship with Jesus? There is no shortcut. We need to be right with Him, through the sacraments, especially the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
I have been going regularly to partake of this sacrament, but I am always filled with trepidation and fear whenever I am in the queue at the confessional. Confessions are always hard, but once Father gives the absolution, I feel a weight off my shoulders and feel that Jesus is helping me up by the hand. He is inviting me to walk in His ways as He has already cured us of all our spiritual ailments. It is only then, that we able to serve others in a more genuine way, loving our neighbours as He loves us.
By serving and loving our neighbours, it may be an occasion for our fellow brothers and sisters to experience the love of Christ, that they might also begin their own 5-step process. All we have to do is to be open and with a spirit of humility, let the Holy Spirit guide and use us.
5 simple steps. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? But as sinful, fallen humans, we always over-complicate the issues and, more often than not, trip and fall. I know I have. Many times. But that doesn’t mean that we cannot begin the 5 steps again. Because God is always reaching out to us and wanting us to walk with Him. All the time.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Calvin Wee)
Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are so good and constantly want us to be with you. We humbly ask for the strength to always come back to you when we fall away, to always seek You in all we do. Amen.
Thanksgiving: Thank you Lord, for your mercy and grace. Thank you Lord, for the avenues available to be right with You. Thank you Lord, for always loving us. Amen.
OXYGEN 
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