Daily Readings - Wed Oct 03 2018
Job
1Then Job answered and said:2"Truly I know that it is so: But how can a man be in the right before God?3If one wished to contend with him, one could not answer him once in a thousand times.4He is wise in heart and mighty in strength--who has hardened himself against him, and succeeded?--5he who removes mountains, and they know it not, when he overturns them in his anger,6who shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble;7who commands the sun, and it does not rise; who seals up the stars;8who alone stretched out the heavens and trampled the waves of the sea;9who made the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the chambers of the south;10who does great things beyond searching out, and marvelous things beyond number.11Behold, he passes by me, and I see him not; he moves on, but I do not perceive him.12Behold, he snatches away; who can turn him back? Who will say to him, 'What are you doing?'14How then can I answer him, choosing my words with him?15Though I am in the right, I cannot answer him; I must appeal for mercy to my accuser.16If I summoned him and he answered me, I would not believe that he was listening to my voice.
Luke
57As they were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."58And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."59To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father."60And Jesus said to him, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God."61Yet another said, "I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home."62Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and 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.