Jb. 7:1-4, 6-7; Ps. 147:1-6; 1 Cor. 9:16-19, 22-23; Mk. 1:29-39
St. Paul claims to be “all things to all” to save at least some. St. Paul is acting “in persona Christi” for it is Christ who came into this world to be all things to heal the broken hearted. We all share in the brokenness of humanity and are in need of healing. Job is broken hearted in a state of restlessness and despair as he contemplates an end to his happiness. St. Paul makes of himself “a slave to all to win over as many as possible” sharing in the weak, the poor, the suffering, the sick his own weakness. As Jesus poured himself out on humanity, Paul takes up the cross and carries it for Jesus. How then are we carrying our share of the cross by being all things to those who God has placed in our path? We do this by living the gospel.
Job is a reminder that no one gets through this life without a share of suffering. Suffering removes all the distractions of this world. We spend our time on creating wealth, spending our wealth, entertainment, travel, and all the external focus of our interests. Suffering is a recentering on what really matters, our connectedness to God, family, and others. Suffering is our wake-up call that our days are numbered and how are we fulfilling our purpose. Suffering serves its own purpose to brings about an examination of conscience, a reconciliation with God and others and even a purging of our sinfulness. We no longer desire to sin but to be saved. Save us O’ Lord for we have sinned. In suffering we become all things to all who share through their own suffering the cross of Jesus.
St. Paul is a reminder that we are to live and be in imitation of Christ who came to serve and not be served. St. Paul desires to walk in the footsteps of Jesus by walking in the footsteps of the suffering. It is here that he encounters the presence and love of God. In St. Paul we see our purpose as baptized Christians is to “win over as many as possible”, to be disciples as witnesses to the gospel, and to be holy. If we look to the saints and why they were able to lead others to Christ we recognize it was not from their humanity as in their leadership skills, or intelligence, or persuasive speaking but from the divine call to be all things to all. People were attracted to saints by their holiness seeking to share in becoming one in holiness.
In the gospel we see Jesus entering the house of Simon and Andrew and curing Simon’s mother-in-law. This act of healing is a reminder of Jesus addressing the most pressing need first before being concerned with preaching the gospel. He gives us an example of subsidiarity addressing the most immediate needs of the people first before moving on to other villages that he may preach there also. He cared for the pressing needs of the people before pursuing his purpose for coming into the world. To be all things to all begins by caring for others and meeting them where they are at and not where we want them to be.
We become all things to all by loving the present moment in giving of ourselves to the present needs. A King knows he must first strengthen his warriors before going into battle or he will surely lose the fight. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs recognizes in humanity the value of meeting the physiological needs before progressing up to a transcendent stage of development. Jesus cured many of various diseases and drove out many demons in order to return a person their integrity as a child of God before the call to “follow” his teaching. Charity to the human condition comes through the corporal works of mercy and the spiritual works of mercy. This is our higher purpose that together we may transcend to higher ground and win as many as possible.
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