Daily Readings - Wed Sep 28 2022

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 first reading from the Book of Job presents us with a profound expression of humility and awe in the face of God’s power and wisdom. Job acknowledges the vastness of God’s understanding and strength, recognizing that humanity cannot fully comprehend or challenge God’s ways. He reflects on how God’s power shapes the world, from moving mountains to commanding the stars, and admits that human beings are limited in their ability to grasp the divine. Job’s words remind us of the mystery and majesty of God, inviting us to approach Him with reverence and humility. In the Gospel, Jesus challenges three individuals who express a desire to follow Him, revealing the radical commitment required for discipleship. To the first, He emphasizes that following Him means embracing instability and sacrifice, for even the Son of Man has no place to call His own. To the second, He insists that the call to proclaim the kingdom of God must take precedence over even family obligations. To the third, He warns against looking back once one has decided to follow Him. These exchanges underscore the demand of prioritizing God above all else and trusting in His providence, even when the path is uncertain. Both readings call us to trust in God’s plan and to embrace the sacrifices that come with following Him. Like Job, we are invited to humbly acknowledge our limitations and to place our faith in God’s wisdom, even when we cannot fully understand His ways. Like the would-be disciples in the Gospel, we are challenged to let go of attachments and distractions, trusting that God will guide us. May we, in our own lives, cultivate this kind of faith and courage, surrendering our will to His and walking forward with confidence in His love.