5th Week in Ordinary Time
9th February 2023 (Thursday) Readings and Reflection
{getToc} $title={Contents}
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Genesis 2:18-25
The Lord God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him." Now out of the ground the Lord God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.
Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5 (R. 1a)
R/. Blessed are all who fear the Lord.
Gospel : Mark 7:24-30
At that time: Jesus arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. But immediately a woman, whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. And he said to her, "Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." But she answered him, "Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." And he said to her, "For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter." And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.
Daily Gospel Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertWarning}
Main Theme: Be sensitive and compassionate!
Indicative: Our God is very sensitive toward us. He senses and feels our needs and struggles. He is ever moved with compassion and promptly comes to our aid{alertSuccess}
1. We have today a clear image of a true Master and a disciple like the Master. The Lord is truly the great Shepherd of the sheep. He feels compassion for the people and cares for them, teaching them, guiding, and healing them. His spirit is undaunted, and his mission is untiring, to the extent of not bothering even about rest or food.
2. Quite true to the words in the first reading, Letter to Hebrews, the Master equips his disciples with every good that they may always do God’s will. He works in them that which is pleasing in God’s sight. He keeps watch over them and feels deeply concerned for them.
3. The disciples too inherit the same mission and imbibe the same spirit of relentless commitment. They passionately imitate their Master. They readily submit to their sole Leader. Like their Master, they offer pleasing sacrifices to God.
4. These sacrifices consist in never neglecting to do good, and ever sharing the immense treasure of faith they have. With a clear conscience, they desire to act honourably in all things. They do everything joyfully and not grudgingly. They live lives accountable to their Master.
5. We are the disciples for today, and also the leaders, and the shepherds of the people entrusted to us. If we are to be true to our call and mission, then we need to be imbued with and ignited by the same spirit of surrender, joy, and benevolence in unswerving commitment.
Imperative: There may be rest for the body. But there is no rest for the spirit. There may be a pause from physical work and activity, but no pause for God’s mission. Food may satisfy physical hunger, but only doing God’s will is the nourishment that satiates the deep spiritual hunger.{alertSuccess}