ST. MICHAEL’S PARISH P.O. BOX 610 - BELL ISLAND, NF - A0A 4H0 Administrator: Fr. Wayne Dohey – Secretary: Jody Whalen
Reflection for Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time
The question of human suffering, especially that of the just, was a big problem is biblical times - suffering was seen as a punishment from God for sin. This is the problem Job was wrestling with and is still a problem for us today. There are many today who can identify with Job...those who suffer from poverty, hunger, sickness, injustice or tragedy. What was Jesus’ answer to the problem of suffering? What we see in the Gospel is not so much an answer to the question “why suffering”, but Jesus’ response to actual suffering. Jesus surrounded himself with the sick and suffering. He gave himself to each one of them, healing them one at a time. Jesus had compassion on the sufferers and he made his compassion an opportunity to show what God is like. By the was Jesus gave himself to the sick, he reveals to us the compassion of God in the face of human suffering. Suffering is a lonely condition. The suffering of others is an opportunity for us. We may not be able to cure, but it is always within our power to care. And to care is a very healing thing. We come to those who suffer with empty hands - empty hands that seek to comfort. All the sick ask is that we do not desert them...that we stand with them, as Mary did at the foot of the cross at Calvary. Simply to be there - sometimes that, in some way, is the hardest thing of all. Regarding our own suffering...suffering is an unavoidable element of human condition. Nevertheless, the road of suffering is a narrow and dark one. It is a great comfort to us to know that Jesus has traveled down this road and went to its end. He shows us that although the road led to Calvary, it didn’t end there-it ended at Easter. For those who suffer, therefore, their suffering becomes an opportunity to share in Christ’s Passion in the hope of sharing in his Easter victory.
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| Mass Intentions Tuesday 7:00pm Errol Keels; Doris Johnston; Jim & Judy Whelan; Art Cummings; Kevin Byrne & dec. fam.; Christine Whalen; Tom Brazil Wednesday 11:00am Council Priests Meeting Thursday 2:00pm Escasoni Home Friday 9:30am Ada Carroll; David Foley;
Ray Meadus; Mark Saturday 4:00pm Sacrament of Penance Sunday 10:30am For All Parishioners,
Living & Deceased SANCTUARY CANDLE: STEPHEN HAWCO Collection Liturgical Ministers Sat. Feb. 11th 5:00pm Readers: John Kent & Ros Hurley Sun. Feb. 12th 10:30am Readers: Christine Quinlan & Geraldine Fitzgerald
CHURCH CLEANING TEAM FOR WEEK OF FEB. 6TH TO FEB. 10TH World Day of Prayer for Sick Feast Days This Week Family Life Bureau MUN Catholic Community Philomena Chafe Memorial Pilgrimage Volunteers |
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