From the Deacon’s Desk 02/07/2021

Dear Friends:

Our first reading today is from the book of Job 7:1-4, 6-7. I think everyone knows the story of Job. He was a good and holy man and quite prosperous. Satan accuses him of being      self-righteous because Job has been given everything by God. Satan convinces God to take everything away from Job hoping God will see that what the devil says is true. We know that Satan is not being truthful; Job was anything but self-righteous.

During ancient times if something happened to you as happened to Job, your friends and relatives automatically assumed you had sinned. The hard times you experienced was punishment from God for your sinfulness. Today we hear Job saying that he has done nothing to deserve what happened to him. Job believes that this is just a part of life. Job is trying his best so that God will know he is innocent and has done nothing to deserve his plight.

The Gospel from Mark 1:29-39 provides a response to Job’s pain. Jesus heals Simon’s mother-in-law and then goes on to drive out demons and cure the sick throughout all of Galilee. God will always be there for us! However we must be ready to accept what God wants for us. That is the key to happiness and trust in the Lord.

My dear friends, life is difficult. Sometimes we have to deal with sickness, loss of financial security, relationship problems and so on. The message of the readings today is that God will never desert us. He is with us in the good times and the bad times. There is always reason for hope, for God is the source of hope, and we shall never hope in vain.

Peace and All Good!

Deacon Jim