It is the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time already…and Lent is quickly approaching!!!

The Readings for this Sunday:

Reading 1JB 7:1-4, 6-7

Job spoke, saying:
Is not man’s life on earth a drudgery? Are not his days those of hirelings?
He is a slave who longs for the shade, a hireling who waits for his wages.
So I have been assigned months of misery, and 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.
My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle; they come to an end without hope.
Remember that my life is like the wind; I shall not see happiness again.

Responsorial PsalmPS 147:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

R. (cf. 3a) Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Praise the LORD, for he is good; sing praise to our God, for he is gracious;
it is fitting to praise him.
The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem; the dispersed of Israel he gathers.
R. Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
He tells the number of the stars; he calls each by name.
R. Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Great is our Lord and mighty in power; to his wisdom there is no limit.
The LORD sustains the lowly; the wicked he casts to the ground.
R. Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Reading 21 COR 9:16-19, 22-23

Brothers and sisters:
If I preach the gospel, this is no reason for me to boast, for an obligation has been imposed on me, and woe to me if I do not preach it!
If I do so willingly, I have a recompense, but if unwillingly, then I have been entrusted with a stewardship.
What then is my recompense?
That, when I preach, I offer the gospel free of charge so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

Although I am free in regard to all, I have made myself a slave to all
so as to win over as many as possible.
To the weak I became weak, to win over the weak.
I have become all things to all, to save at least some.
All this I do for the sake of the gospel, so that I too may have a share in it.

GospelMK 1:29-39

On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever.
They immediately told him about her. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up.
Then the fever left her and she waited on them.

When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons.
The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him.

Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.
Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.”
He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also.
For this purpose have I come.”
So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.

These reading are so appropriate for the day chosen to pray for an end to human trafficking! In Job it speaks of misery, which those who are victims of human trafficking experience.

(I am not going into the other ways Job is speaking, to all of us at this time, those can be found in other commentaries.)

In the Psalm it speaks of God healing the brokenhearted and binding up their wounds!

In the Gospel it speaks of healing, not only physical healing but healing from evil as well. Always calling to repentance and healing!

It also mentions Jesus going away for a time of prayer. A powerful reminder of the importance of taking time for prayer!

We should pray often and we are thankful for our brothers and sisters who live a life of prayer for all of us in monasteries! There are 2 different forms of Religious life, Active and Contemplative. Now while all of us active Religious should be taking time for being contemplative, there are those Religious whose work is prayer! (The “Pink Sisters” and “Carmel” where St. Therese was are good examples!

I mentioned that this is a reminder day to pray for an end to human trafficking:

International Day Of Prayer And Awareness Against Human Trafficking

February 8: International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking

The Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and the International Union of Superiors General has designated February 8 as an annual day of prayer and awareness against human trafficking. February 8 is the feast day of St. Josephine Bakhita, who was kidnapped as a child and sold into slavery in Sudan and Italy. Once Josephine was freed, she became a Canossian nun and dedicated her life to sharing her testament of deliverance from slavery and comforting the poor and suffering. She was declared a Saint in 2000.

On February 8, Catholics all over the world are encouraged to host or attend prayer services to create greater awareness about this phenomenon. Through prayer, we not only reflect on the experiences of those that have suffered through this affront to human dignity, but also comfort, strengthen, and help empower survivors.

If you are in the Washington, DC area please join us on Sunday, February 8, 2015 for a Special Mass at Noon in the Upper Church of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Or use this flyer to promote the day and visit our Become a SHEPHERD page to help you host an awareness raising event locally. In the words of the committee chairman for migration, Bishop Eusebio Elizondo, M.Sp.S.: “If just one person realizes from this day that they or someone they know is being trafficked, we will have made a difference.”

(The link can be found on the USCCB webpage, where I copied this from!)

Through the intercession of St. Josephine Bakhita may we pray and help bring about an end to human trafficking!

On a side note…we had 2 snow days this past week, Monday and Wednesday! I thought you might like some pictures from our fun in the snow after school Friday!

Have a great week and God Bless!