Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year B

The readings of this Sunday expose the meaning of our purpose in this life. The first reading, Job 7:1-4, 6-7, is the story of Job who had almost everything an ordinary person of his time would wanted to have. Suddenly, it came to a day when he had nothing left but sickness. And all of his relatives and friends turned away from him. In this dark moment of his life, as he said: "I am filled with restlessness until the dawn," he held on to the purpose of his life, that is, to praise God in all circumstances. He wanted nothing but being faithful to God, trusting in God's love and care for him.

In the second reading, 1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23, Saint Paul also reclaimed his purpose of life in time of trials. He believed firmly that God has entrusted to him to proclaim the good news of salvation to all. Proclaiming the word of God was Paul’s work and his purpose in life whether it is convenient or inconvenient. The Gospel, Mark 1:29-39, tells about a day in Jesus' ministry life. First and foremost, Jesus grounded himself in the love of God, and discerned the will of the Father, in silence and through prayer. In the midst of all activities, Jesus always stayed focus to his work which was to proclaim the good news as he said "For this purpose have I come."

What is the purpose in life for you and me? No doubt, disappointment, rejection, abandonment, and suffering come to everyone, and sorrow seems to be the very essence of life for many of us. For some of us, the promise of a better day seems far of reach. Are we giving up our call – the call to proclaim the good news of God to others?

Can we be like Job, never feel that God has abandoned anyone when He allows us to suffer? Do we have enough faith in God so that we can believe that we are allowed to share in the suffering of Christ for the salvation of all humankind? May we keep in mind that there is resurrection to eternal life for the faithful followers of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Fr. Phi Nguyen

Mass Schedules

Weekdays Mass Schedule

Monday - Friday
8:00 a.m. Bilingual - English/Vietnamese

Weekend Mass Schedule

Saturday
4:00 PM (English)
6:00 PM (Vietnamese)

Sunday
7:30 a.m. Vietnamese
9:30 a.m. English
11:30 a.m. Vietnamese
1:30 p.m. English

Confession

Saturdays from 3:00-3:30 pm. 
1st & 3rd in English
2nd & 4th in English & Vietnamese

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