Christ the Cornerstone

Scripture reminds us the Lord heals our brokenness

“Alleluia! How good to sing praise to our God; how pleasant to give fitting praise. The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem, and gathers the dispersed of Israel, Healing the brokenhearted, and binding up their wounds” (Ps 147:1-3).

February is sometimes seen as a dismal month. We are in the dead of winter, and the weather can be cold and dreary (or worse). Fortunately, February is a short month. By the time we get to March, there are signs that spring is not far off.

The Scripture readings for the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time display something of a February mood. This is certainly true for the first reading from the Book of Job (Jb 7:1-4, 6-7). Job, a righteous man whose faith God allows Satan to test severely, says bitterly:

“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” (Jb 7:1-4, 6-7).

It’s hard to imagine an attitude more grim and hopeless than this.

Fortunately, we know the end of the story. Job overcomes all his trials, remains faithful to God and is rewarded for his constancy.

Job is, of course, an image of the suffering servant, Jesus, who will redeem all of humanity by his passion, death and resurrection. By his wounds, we are healed (Is 53:5; 1 Pt 2:24).

The responsorial psalm for this Sunday (Ps 147) assures us that the Lord heals our brokenness. No matter how bad things may seem, God is with us. His healing power comforts and sustains us. “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Ps 147:3). We cannot avoid the lingering effects of sin and death. They are part of the human condition. But as disciples of Jesus Christ, we believe that our Redeemer has overcome the permanent consequences of sin and evil. He has gained for us the joy of eternal life with him.

In the second reading for the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (1 Cor 9:16-19, 22-23), St. Paul uses images of slavery and freedom to describe the “burden” he carries as a missionary disciple:

“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” (1 Cor 9:16, 22-23).

When we are true to our baptismal vocation, we accept hardships for the sake of the Gospel. And we allow the love and mercy of God to heal us—and those we are called to help—by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Gospel reading for this Sunday (Mk 1:29–39) affirms Jesus’ healing power: “When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. … He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons” (Mk 1: 32, 34).

Jesus is not discouraged by the “pandemic” of mental, physical and spiritual illness that confronts him every day. He doesn’t give up or lose hope—even when those closest to him doubt him, or even betray him. In the words of St. Paul, Jesus “became weak to win over the weak” (1 Cor 9:22). He surrenders to the world’s darkness in order to transform it according to his wonderful light.

When things appear gloomy to us in this dark time of the year, the Good News proclaimed by Jesus challenges us to remain faithful, to see through the foggy weather and have confidence that the Son of God has overcome every evil. His light shines for us unfailingly and leads us to a vastly different, joy-filled future.

Let’s pray that God’s grace will help us overcome whatever lingering doubts we may have about the bright future that awaits us as brothers and sisters in Christ. Let’s thank our loving and merciful God for all the gifts he has given us as we work to proclaim the Gospel of joy in all seasons. †