Having Purpose

— By Lisa Greey

Have you ever experienced a day or a week when everything went wrong?  On the other end of the spectrum, have you ever experienced a day when you felt on top of the world and everything was going right?  We meet two people in the readings today that embody, in a sense, these two experiences.  Then in the gospel, we see someone who embodies both responses in a way that we can probably relate to in our own lives!

Job is feeling pretty down and out in the first reading.  He claims life is ”drudgery”  and that his last months have been full of “misery.”   When life isn’t going so well – I’m sure you can relate to feeling “restless” at night and wondering what’s the point of getting out of bed.  Now, Job doesn’t remain this way throughout the entire book.  He actually remains faithful and grateful, but today we get a glimpse of his negativity.  He seems stuck, unable to find his purpose.

Paul, on the other hand, has found his purpose – to “preach the gospel.”  He is so convinced of this purpose, he claims he is doomed if he fails to preach!  Unlike Job, who is turned in on himself, Paul is turned outward – and in doing so, he seeks to become “all things to all” in order to bring the gospel of Christ to the ends of the earth.  He is willing to become a slave to reach the slaves, a weak man to win over the weak.  You and I have the same purpose, and could have the same zeal.  Are you willing to become “all things to all” in your high school, in order that no one miss out on the gospel?  Would you join the Math club, to reach the math geniuses? Would you learn soccer, to reach the soccer players?  This week, consider one way you can preach the gospel to some new faces!

Now we come to the gospel.  Simon’s mother in law is very sick.  She is likely feeling a bit like Job – who isn’t miserable when they are sick?  Jesus reaches out and heals her, and this woman’s immediate response is to be a servant, “Then the fever left her and she waited on them.”  She doesn’t say, “Oh I should rest a few more hours to make sure the fever is truly gone.”  She gets right up and serves Jesus, Simon and Andrew.  One way we can “preach the Gospel”  is through service.  It doesn’t always mean using words.  This Sunday as we consider how and where we can preach the Gospel, let the service of Simon’s mother and law and the zealous preaching of Paul inspire us to find similar opportunities to give glory to God.