5th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle B, Year I)
Community Word: Disciples of Christ speak with authority by the power of God’s word.
Theme: As disciples of Christ we speak with God’s authority when prayer is our way of life.
Promise: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (Ps 147:3)
Reflection:
Our Community theme for the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time is: As disciples of Christ we speak with God’s authority when prayer is our way of life. This statement could be made conclusive because a person’s way of living, or lifestyle, will definitely show how weak or how strong his personal relationship is with his God.
In the first reading, Job seems to lose heart over what appears to be the meaninglessness of life. Yes, even godly people may sometimes experience this kind of dryness in their spiritual life. God has said, “I will never forsake you nor abandon you,” (Heb 13:5 ). In faith, we just have to believe God’s assurance and omnipresence, not just even, but especially during our darkest moments of trial. We have to assure ourselves that He will never leave us, for it is we who remove ourselves from His presence when we entertain doubt and commit sin. Like Job, we just have to wait patiently for the Lord’s divine move concerning our prayers.
The second reading should be taken as a challenge for all of us to live and behave like Christ, but never ever to entertain the notion that we are Christ ourselves. Serving God is a choice, a privilege, and not an imposition on us. A true servant of the Lord delights doing his best, not for the purpose of winning praise, but to glorify God in all that he achieves through his service. Followers who manifest genuine faith are those who, despite the allurement of high office and the ego-boosting highs of accomplishments, remain humble, always as aware of how they think, live and act, in and out of Community.
In the gospel reading, Jesus’ faithfulness to His Father is demonstrated as He flees the crowds to immerse Himself in prayer. Jesus follows this pattern throughout his ministry, again demonstrating the power of prayer. Prayer and communication with his Father was the focal point of his life, the source of His strength and wisdom, a way of life. He prays before and after any major decision, or activity. It is a pattern we should emulate.
To live a life of prayer is to give ourselves the time to establish and cultivate our relationship with God, with others and with our own self. It is not just looking to God as a provider of our needs and special favors. It is to acknowledge and appreciate our rootedness in God, and His presence in us and around us throughout various moments of our day and our life. It is our good relationship with God that helps us live as good servants of the Lord, good parents, good people.
A strong conviction in the power of prayer and putting this into practice will surely increase our faith. When faith is small and weak, we ought to ask the Lord Jesus in humble prayer to build up our faith, make it grow deeper day by day. Faith will definitely grow as we consistently act and live our lives in communion with God. Like Jesus, prayer should always come first in our life as we “pray unceasingly and give thanks to God at every moment” (1Th 5:17).
Living a prayerful life gives us the spiritual disposition to declare the word of God with authority. As we become righteous before God, the Holy Spirit will bestow in us the gifts and fruit of the Spirit, empowering us with the grace given to God’s children. We will be empowered to declare God’s word to others and bring them to renewal and salvation in the name of Jesus. Even when we waver in our faith, when we experience spiritual dryness, we will always be brought back before God’s presence by calling the name of the Lord in our prayers. God will never abandon us and we can always lean upon His words of promise in Psalm 147:3, “He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds.”
Reflection questions:
1. How was your prayer life experience before joining the Community?
2. Share insights or experiences when persistent praying inspired you and made an impact in your life today.
This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
February 8, 2015 (Sun) Jb 7:1-4,6-7/Ps 147:1-2,3-4,5-6/1Cor 9:P16-19,22-23/Mk 1:29-39
February 9, 2015 (Mon) Gn 1:1-19/Ps 104:1-2,5-6,10,12,24,35/Mk 6:53-56
February 10, 2015 (Tue) Gn 1:20-2:4/Ps 8:4-5,6-7,8-9/Mk 7:1-13
February 11, 2015 (Wed) Gn 2:4-9,15-17/Ps 103:1-2,27-28,29-30/Mk 7:14-23
February 12, 2015 (Thur) Gn 2:18-35/Ps 128:1-2,3,4-5/Mk 7:24-30
February 13, 2015 (Fri) Gn 3:1-8/Ps 32:1-2,5,6,7/Mk 7:31-37
February 14, 2015 (Sat) Gn 3:9-24/Ps 90:2,3-4,5-6,13-13/Mk 8:1-10
“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”
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