5th Sunday, Year B: Homily by Fr Justin Adiele
THEME: “EVERYONE IS SEARCHING FOR JESUS”
INTRODUCTION:
Today, the gospel reading embodied the catch phrase; “Jesus, everyone is searching for you.” People of different status and people from all works of life seem to have something to gain from searching for Jesus. The peoples left every other worldly search and concerns to focus on their search for Jesus whose presence alone, whose touch and decree of word alone could meet all their other needs and search in life. Jesus became for them a master key to other things they are searching for in life. They have come to realize that Jesus is the shortest and fastest route to their healing, their deliverance, their goals, and their miraculous turn around; for one who finds and has Jesus, finds every other thing; one with God, is with majority of the things he/she is searching for!
THE FIRST READING (JOB 7: 1–4. 6–7)
The first reading revealed Job’s pine in grief which is a perfect reflection/picture of those who are far away from God, or who have God nowhere near them. Once God is far away, our hard labours, our wages, our longings, will all end in misery, emptiness and total despair. In Job’s case God only seems to be temporarily away or elusive to him, and the devil took over his life and really messed things up for Job, and he was wrapped in sickness, sorrow and in grief. Thank God his case was not permanent, for his Redeemer liveth, and will soon deliver and restore him. Tell your neighbor; ‘may Jesus or God never elude you!’
THE SECOND READING (1 COR. 9: 16–19. 22–23)
In the second reading we can deduce that there is no faster means/way of searching for Jesus/God and finding Him than through the Gospel. St. Paul undertook the gracious task of helping the Corinthians and the Gentile world to find Jesus/God through the Gospel message he preached. St. Paul even cursed himself saying; “woe to me if I do not preach the gospel.” In other words; “woe to me if I do not help others to find Jesus.” St. Paul was ready to do whatever it takes to assist others to search and find, and possess Jesus who is our all in all.
THE GOSPEL READING (MK. 1: 29–39)
In the Gospel reading, Jesus, the man whom everyone was searching for, was also on the move searching for everyone in every town and cities throughout Galilee. Many who luckily stumbled upon Jesus never remained the same. Jesus searched out for many as well, and changed their lives and stories for glory. He visited the house of Peter, bringing healing to his mother in-law. And as many as found Jesus, and as many as Jesus found on his way; were taught, delivered, healed, encouraged and comforted.
CONCLUSION
My dear people of God, I do not know what and what you are searching for in this life, but we have to realize today that the farther away you are from God, the farther away you are from meeting/finding whatever good you have been searching for. Searching and finding Jesus guarantees us access to other values we chase/search for in life; be it wisdom or power to subdue the earth, be it health, peace, true riches, liberty from demonic/satanic oppression or good life. As you join the queue of those passionately and constantly searching for Jesus, may Jesus be very near to you, bringing you the amazing and saving grace of God!
Happy Sunday!
Fr. Justin