Daily Readings - Wed Oct 03 2018

¹And Job, responding, said²Truly, I know that it is so, and that man cannot be justified compared with God³If he chooses to contend with him, he is not able to respond to him once out of a thousand times⁴He is understanding in heart and mighty in strength; who has resisted him and yet had peace⁵He has moved mountains, and those whom he overthrew in his fury did not know it⁶He shakes the earth out of its place and its pillars tremble⁷He commands the sun and it does not rise, and he closes the stars as if under a seal⁸He alone extends the heavens, and he walks upon the waves of the sea⁹He fashions Arcturus, and Orion, and Hyades, and the interior of the south¹⁰He accomplishes great and incomprehensible and miraculous things, which cannot be numbered¹¹If he approaches me, I will not see him; if he departs, I will not understand¹²If he suddenly should question, who will answer him? Or who can say, "Why did you do so?¹⁴what am I then, that I should answer him and exchange words with him¹⁵And if I now have any justice, I will not respond, but will beseech my judge¹⁶And if he should listen to me when I call, I would not believe that he had heard my voice

Luke

Chapter 9

⁵⁷And it happened that, as they were walking along the way, someone said to him, "I will follow you, wherever you will go.⁵⁸Jesus said to him: "Foxes have dens, and the birds of the air have nests. But the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head.⁵⁹Then he said to another, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.⁶⁰And Jesus said to him: "Let the dead bury their dead. But you go and announce the kingdom of God.⁶¹And another said: "I will follow you, Lord. But permit me first to explain this to those of my house.⁶²Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow, and then looks back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the relationship between humility, trust, and discipleship. In the first reading from Job, we encounter a man overwhelmed by the majesty and power of God. Job acknowledges that humanity cannot justify itself before God, for God’s ways are incomprehensible and His strength unmatched. He humbly recognizes that even if he were to try to argue his case, he would not fully understand God’s ways. This passage reminds us of the limits of human understanding and the importance of surrendering to God’s will with humility and trust. In the Gospel, Jesus calls His disciples to radical commitment. He challenges them to prioritize the kingdom of God above all else, even over family obligations and personal comfort. The would-be followers in the Gospel are hesitant, tied down by worldly concerns, but Jesus insists that true discipleship requires letting go of such attachments. His words are stark: “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” This teaching underscores the need for unwavering focus and trust in following Christ, even when the path is difficult or uncertain. Together, these readings call us to embrace humility and trust in our relationship with God. Like Job, we must acknowledge our limitations and surrender to God’s plan, even when it doesn’t make sense to us. Like the disciples, we are called to radical commitment, putting God’s will above our own desires and distractions. In our daily lives, this means letting go of the need to control everything and instead trusting in God’s providence. It means being willing to step out in faith, even when the road ahead is unclear. May we learn to trust in God’s goodness and follow Him with hearts fully surrendered.