Understanding the Word

By Br. John R. Barker, OFM

In his first response to the “consolation” of his friends for his  terrible suffering, Job expresses not only the suffering caused by his  physical pain, but especially the pain of loneliness and confusion.  He experiences his friends as undependable (6:15) and cannot  fathom the reason for his suffering, which is unexplained and  unexplainable. In his misery, he reflects on the “drudgery” of life, the  human condition that suffering sometimes renders intolerable. Job’s  misfortune is profound and cannot be dismissed, but immersed in it  as he is, he is unable to see anything in life but misfortune, “slavery,”  and trouble. From Job’s current vantage point, life is only short,  painful, and ultimately without hope. 

Paul’s comments about preaching the gospel fall within a defense  of his rights as an apostle. He points out to the Corinthians that  although he has the right to receive recompense for his work (9:1–14),  he has not and will not insist on this. If Paul “enjoyed” preaching the  gospel, then that would be recompense in itself. But in fact he does  not do it because he enjoys it, but because he has been commanded  by God—he has been “entrusted with a stewardship.” Paradoxically,  the fact that Paul preaches without monetary recompense is itself a  recompense, because he knows that this is his to do and by doing it  he will receive his “share” in the gospel.

Mark’s Gospel famously moves, especially at the beginning,  quickly from one scene to the next, with everything happening  “immediately.” This narrative urgency reflects Jesus’ own sense  of mission; he is eager to do what he has come to do. The Gospel  makes clear that the priority is to proclaim the kingdom of God by  healing physical and spiritual ailments. Fever and other illnesses are  conquered, as are demons, one after the other in rapid succession.  There is no better way to show the power of God at work in the  world than freeing people from whatever binds them. Even when  Jesus is summoned from prayer he responds immediately and goes  forward to continue preaching and healing.

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