“Do not human beings have a hard service on earth, and are not their days like the days of a laborer? Like a slave who longs for the shadow, and like laborers who look for their wages, so I am allotted months of emptiness, and nights of misery are apportioned to me. When I lie down I say, ‘When shall I rise?’ But the night is long, and I am full of tossing until dawn. My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and come to their end without hope. “Remember that my life is a breath; my eye will never again see good.
For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission. What then is my reward? Just this: that in my preaching I may make the gospel free of charge, not making full use of my right in the gospel. For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, that I might win the more.
To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews; to those under the law I became as one under the law-though not being myself under the law-that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law – not being without law toward God but under the law of Christ-that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
Jesus and his friends left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.
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That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.
In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” He answered, “Let us go on to the neighbouring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.” And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.
In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” He answered, “Let us go on to the neighbouring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.” And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.
Reflection
by Carlo Alexis Malaluan
Our gospel today invites to reflect: Who are we looking for?
Sickness, torments, dryness, these are part of our human experience. Suffering is inevitable but amidst these things, who are we looking for? We might seek help from the best doctors and look for the world’s greatest experts but sooner or later we would realize that their efforts would also fall short for we are in endless search. We are never satisfied. As Saint Augustine puts it into words, our hearts are restless!
Our gospel draws our search not to what, but to whom. We are not looking for an object, an idea, a concept but for a person, for someone! As Saint Peter approaches Jesus saying, "Everyone is looking for You!" Saint Peter speaks for us all. We are in constant search for God, for His mercy and compassion!
This is our movement and it is not surprising! But what is surprising is that Jesus never hesitates to come to us. He never refuses our invitation affirming that this is why He came.
In our lives, we experience such tribulations wherein we cannot find hope. We fall into despair and exhaustion. We are restless. But God comes to us, offering His compassion. He cures our “sickness” and expels the “evil” within us. We find comfort and solace in Him. We find our answers in Him.
Prayer
Lord, help us to see Your face everyday. Help us to seek You and find You for our hearts are restless until it rest in You. Amen.
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