Daily Readings - Tue Sep 27 2022
Job
1After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed his day2and this is what he said3May the day perish on which I was born, and the night, in which it was said, "A man has been conceived.11Why did I not die in the womb? Having left the womb, why did I not immediately perish12Why was I received upon the knees? Why was I suckled at the breasts13For by now, I should have been sleeping silently, and taking rest in my slee14with the kings and consuls of the earth, who build themselves solitudes15either with princes, who possess gold and fill their houses with silver16or, like a hidden miscarriage, I should not have continued, just like those who, being conceived, have not seen the light17There the impious cease from rebellion, and there the wearied in strength take rest20Why is light given to the miserable, and life to those who are in bitterness of soul21who expect death, and it does not arrive, like those who dig for treasur22and who rejoice greatly when they have found the grave23to a man whose way is hidden and whom God has surrounded with darkness
Luke
51Now it happened that, while the days of his dissipation were being completed, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem52And he sent messengers before his face. And going on, they entered into a city of the Samaritans, to prepare for him53And they would not receive him, because his face was going toward Jerusalem54And when his disciples, James and John, had seen this, they said, "Lord, do you want us to call for fire to descend from heaven and consume them?55And turning, he rebuked them, saying: "Do you not know of whose spirit you are56The Son of man came, not to destroy lives, but to save them." And they went into another town
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound expressions of human experience: suffering and rejection. The Book of Job presents us with a man who, in the midst of immense suffering, cries out in despair, questioning the very purpose of his existence. Job's lament is raw and deeply human, reflecting the pain and confusion that can come when we face trials that seem inexplicable. His words remind us that suffering is not alien to the human condition and that even the most faithful can struggle with doubt and anguish.
In contrast, the Gospel of Luke offers us a different response to adversity. Jesus, journeying toward Jerusalem with a clear purpose, encounters rejection from the Samaritans. His disciples, filled with indignation, wish to retaliate with violence, but Jesus rebukes them, affirming that his mission is one of salvation, not destruction. This moment reveals the heart of Jesus' ministry: compassion, mercy, and the refusal to let anger or hatred dictate his actions. While Job's cry expresses the depth of human sorrow, Jesus' response embodies the transformative power of love and forgiveness.
These readings invite us to reflect on how we respond to suffering and rejection in our own lives. Like Job, we may feel the weight of pain and question God's presence in our darkness. Yet, in Jesus, we see a different way—a way that does not seek revenge or self-pity but instead chooses to love and to save. As we navigate our own trials, let us turn to Jesus, asking for the grace to embrace his spirit of compassion and forgiveness. May we learn to see even in the midst of suffering, the possibility of redemption and the call to live as instruments of God's mercy in the world.