Daily Readings - Sat Oct 01 2022
Job
1Then Job, responding to the Lord, said:2I know that you are able to do all things, and that no thoughts are hidden from you3So, who is it that would disguise a lack of knowledge as counsel? Therefore, I have been speaking foolishly, about things whose measure exceeds my knowledge5By paying attention with the ear, I have heard you, but now my eye sees you6Therefore, I find myself reprehensible, and I will do penance in embers and ashes12And the Lord blessed the latter end of Job even more than his beginning. And he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand pairs of oxen, and a thousand she-donkeys13And he had seven sons and three daughters15And, in the whole world, there were not found women so beautiful as the daughters of Job. And so their father gave them an inheritance along with their brothers16But Job lived long after these events, for a hundred and forty years, and he saw his children, and his children’s children, all the way to the fourth generation,17and he died an old man and full of days.
Luke
17Then the seventy-two returned with gladness, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us, in your name.18And he said to them: "I was watching as Satan fell like lightning from heaven19Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and upon all the powers of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you20Yet truly, do not choose to rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.21In the same hour, he exulted in the Holy Spirit, and he said: "I confess to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the prudent, and have revealed them to little ones. It is so, Father, because this way was pleasing before you22All things have been delivered to me by my Father. And no one knows who the Son is, except the Father, and who the Father is, except the Son, and those to whom the Son has chosen to reveal him.23And turning to his disciples, he said: "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see24For I say to you, that many prophets and kings wanted to see the things that you see, and they did not see them, and to hear the things that you hear, and they did not hear them.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on humility, trust in God, and the true source of our joy. The first reading from Job brings us to the culmination of his story, where, after immense suffering and questioning, Job humbly acknowledges God’s power and wisdom. Despite losing everything, Job’s faith endures, and he comes to a deeper understanding of God’s ways. This humility leads to a restoration of his blessings, but more importantly, it deepens his relationship with God. The Gospel, on the other hand, shows us the disciples returning from their mission, rejoicing in their newfound power to cast out demons. Jesus, however, redirects their focus, reminding them that their true joy should lie in the fact that their names are written in heaven, not in their earthly accomplishments.
Both readings highlight the importance of perspective and trust in God. Job’s story teaches us that even in the midst of suffering, we must remain humble and recognize God’s sovereignty. The Gospel reminds us that our ultimate reward is not in the powers or successes we achieve in this world but in our relationship with God. The disciples were given extraordinary gifts, but Jesus wanted them to see beyond the immediate to the eternal. Similarly, we are called to look beyond our own achievements and remember that our true identity and joy come from being children of God.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Where do we place our trust and joy? Do we find our strength in God’s providence, or do we rely on our own abilities? Like Job, we may face trials that test our faith, but through humility and trust, we can emerge closer to God. Like the disciples, we may experience moments of triumph, but let us not forget that our ultimate victory is in heaven. May we, like Job, find ourselves reprehensible in our own eyes and turn to God with repentant hearts. May we, like the disciples, see the world through the eyes of faith and rejoice in the eternal truths that only God can reveal.