2024/02/04 SCRIPTURE REFLECTION

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

-Delaney Paul, Director of Stewardship & Development

"Let us go on to the nearby villages
that I may preach there also.
For this purpose, have I come."

As I reflect on this week’s readings, I am once again filled with the hope of the Lord’s promises. These readings are a prime example of the beautiful typology that occurs from the Old Testament to the New. We see Job, who is the model of human suffering, once again wrestle with questions, and feelings of despair and isolation. Fast forward to the Good News of the Gospel and we see our Lord and Savior reminding us of the purpose for which he came: to heal.

A few years ago, when I participated in Alpha for the first time, I found myself asking questions and struggling with similar feelings to Job. I wasn’t questioning if God was real or not, but I was wondering where exactly He was in my life. Alpha was a safe place for me to explore and be reminded of God’s love. During the session on the Bible, I recognized that I needed to brush up on my scripture knowledge, particularly the Old Testament. I decided to do the Bible In a Year Podcast with Father Mike Schmitz last year and through that, I was able to find continued comfort in my questioning and reminders of God’s love sprinkled throughout. I started to recognize and hear God’s voice more clearly. I highly recommend inviting God’s Word into your life every day—whether it be through a Bible podcast, reading on your own, adoration or daily Mass—I encourage you to make the time to listen to God’s Word. You may be surprised at how quickly you hear His voice.

I’ve always had a fascination with Job because he’s someone I think we can all relate to. In the first reading, Job reminds us that it’s natural to question God but the important lesson to me was that despite Job’s bitterness and anguish, He never denounced his faith. I think the responsorial psalm says it best: Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted!

Where do you need healing in your life? Do you trust God’s promises?

In the Gospel, we are reminded that Jesus is always on the move and always there for us. So often though, I think we are waiting on a move of God, but what if God was actually waiting on us? Jesus is always available for us; the question is are we always available for Him? We all face heartbreak and suffering and like Job, we may question God from time to time but we must always remember that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.

If you find yourself questioning your faith today, I challenge you follow Jesus’ lead in the Gospel: rise early and pray. Call upon the Holy Spirit. Start with this prayer:

Come Holy Spirit
Come now
Come as You wish
Come as You will.

Now, sit in the silence... and listen to His voice.