Daily Catholic Mass Readings for October 1, 2024
First Reading: Job 3.1-3, 11-17, 20-23
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
Psalm 88
1A Canticle Psalm to the sons of Korah. Unto the end. For Mahalath, to answer the understanding of Heman the Ezrahite. O Lord, God of my salvation: I have cried out, day and night, in your presence2Let my prayer enter in your sight. Incline your ear to my petition3For my soul has been filled with evils, and my life has drawn near to Hell4I am considered to be among those who will descend into the pit. I have become like a man without assistance5idle among the dead. I am like the wounded sleeping in sepulchers, whom you no longer remember, and who have been repelled by your hand6They have lain me in the lower pit: in dark places and in the shadow of death7Your fury has been confirmed over me. And you have brought all your waves upon me8You have sent my acquaintances far from me. They have set me as an abomination to themselves. I was handed over, yet I did not depart9My eyes languished before destitution. All day long, I cried out to you, O Lord. I stretched out my hands to you10Will you perform wonders for the dead? Or will physicians raise to life, and so confess to you11Could anyone declare your mercy in the sepulcher, or your truth from within perdition12Will your wonders be known in the darkness, or your justice in the land of oblivion13And I have cried out to you, O Lord, and in early morning, my prayer will come before you14Lord, why do you reject my prayer? Why do you turn your face away from me15I am poor, and I have been amid hardships from my youth. And, though I have been exalted, I am humbled and disturbed16Your wrath has crossed into me, and your terrors have disturbed me17They have surrounded me like water, all day long. They have surrounded me, all at once18Friend and neighbor, and my acquaintances, you have sent far away from me, away from misery
Gospel: Luke 9.51-56
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
The readings today present us with two powerful images of suffering and response. In the first reading from Job, we hear the anguished cry of a man who has lost everything—his family, his health, and his livelihood. Job curses the day he was born, expressing the deep bitterness and despair that can come when we face immense pain and feel abandoned by God. Yet, even in his suffering, Job does not turn away from God; instead, he cries out to Him, seeking some understanding of his plight. This is a profound act of faith, for it shows that even in the darkest moments, we can still address God, even if our words are filled with anger or confusion.
In the Gospel, we see Jesus facing rejection as He journeys toward Jerusalem. The Samaritans refuse to welcome Him because He is heading toward the holy city, a place they likely viewed with resentment. When His disciples, James and John, suggest calling down fire from heaven to punish the Samaritans, Jesus rebukes them, reminding them that He has come not to destroy but to save. This exchange highlights the central mission of Jesus: to bring salvation through love and mercy, not through vengeance or retaliation. It also challenges us to reflect on how we respond to rejection or harm. Do we seek revenge, or do we choose to love and forgive?
These readings invite us to consider how we handle suffering and rejection in our own lives. Like Job, we may feel overwhelmed by pain or injustice, and it’s natural to question God’s plan. But Job’s example teaches us that even in the midst of suffering, we can turn to God in honesty and trust. Similarly, Jesus shows us that our response to harm should be shaped by mercy and compassion, not anger or retaliation. As we navigate our own struggles and encounters with rejection, let us remember that God is always with us, even in the darkness, and that we are called to imitate Christ by choosing love over vengeance. May we trust in God’s plan, even when it’s hard to understand, and may we strive to reflect His mercy in all we do.