FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

READINGS AT MASS

Job 7:1-4, 6-7

Psalm 147

1 Cor 9:16-19, 22-23

Mk 1:29-39

Theme: PRAISE THE LORD WHO HEALS THE BROKENHEARTED

Dear friends in Christ, N'wokafu YESU KRISTO...

Psalm 147 is a liturgical Psalm of praise. A communal song praising God who gives resilience and the capacity to bounce back; to rebuild after a loss. Written in Hebrew and for the Israelites means their appreciation of it would have been greater than ours because it spoke to them in their context. We need to enter their world to be able to feel the same impact. 

It was written after the exile and immediately after the rebuilding of Jerusalem. Probably, it was used (sung) during the dedication of the rebuilt city wall (Neh. 12:27-33). It has it central theme - a call to praise. Praising God, my beloved, is a common character of people who have experienced God. The people of israel had just experienced God in an unimaginable way.  

Psalm 147 is all about God's care for Jerusalem and its post-exilic population. It celebrates the return of the exiles to Jerusalem. It recognises God's power and strength in arranging their return and rebuilding the city. The Psalmist also recognized the helpless position of those who had returned from exile were in. In short, they were heartbroken. 

Job recounts his miserable position before God set in and restored him. The Apostles recognized Peter's mother-in-law's miserable position and immediately told the one who could do something about it.

Do you recognize (remember) how miserable you were before God set in? Do you feel the tremendous care of God in your life despite your obvious unworthiness? If you do, you will never stop praising God. If you knew the kind of pit the Lord pulled you out of, you will never stop serving Him. Let us praise the Lord who heals the brokenhearted! 

PRAYER

Almighty ever-living God, you are and remain a God who heals the brokenhearted. Heal our hearts and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Amen.

May God bless you.

-Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, February 7, 2021.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe