Daily Readings - Wed Sep 30 2020
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
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful reflections on the nature of faith, trust, and surrender. The first reading from Job presents us with a man who, in the midst of suffering and confusion, humbly acknowledges the vastness of God’s power and wisdom. Job recognizes that he cannot justify himself before God or fully understand His ways, and so he turns to humility and trust. This is not an act of resignation but of faith—a recognition that God’s ways are beyond human comprehension and that true wisdom lies in surrendering to His will.
In the Gospel, Jesus challenges would-be followers to consider the cost of discipleship. He calls them to radical commitment, refusing to let even the most natural human ties—family obligations or personal plans—take precedence over following Him. This is not a call to irresponsibility but to prioritization. Jesus is asking us to let go of our need for control, security, and comfort, and instead to trust in His plan and timing. Like Job, we are invited to surrender our own understanding and desires, trusting that God’s way is always greater than our own.
These readings remind us that faith is not about having all the answers or ensuring a smooth path. It is about trusting in God’s providence, even when the road is uncertain. In our daily lives, this means letting go of our need to control every outcome and instead placing our confidence in God. It means being willing to step out in faith, even when we cannot see the full picture. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Where am I holding back from fully trusting God? What distractions or attachments am I allowing to take precedence over my relationship with Him? May we, like Job, humbly acknowledge God’s greatness, and may we, like the disciples, follow Jesus with courage and abandon, trusting that He will guide us home.