Word Wide Open: The Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) - 2/7/21

First Reading (Job 7:1-4, 6-7)

A reading from the Book of Job.

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.

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? Why is despair so bad for us? Why does God allow suffering?


Second Reading (1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-33)

A reading from the First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians.

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.

The word of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this reading? Why are we obligated to share the Gospel? What does it mean to be a slave to all?

Gospel (Mark 1:29-39)

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark.

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.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Asking the big questions: Is there anything that stuck out to you from this Gospel reading? Why did Jesus perform so many miracles? What are the reasons Jesus came to earth? How is everyone looking for God in one way or another?