Daily Readings - Thu Oct 01 2020
Job
21Have mercy on me, have mercy on me, O you my friends, for the hand of God has touched me!22Why do you, like God, pursue me? Why are you not satisfied with my flesh?23"Oh that my words were written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book!24Oh that with an iron pen and lead they were engraved in the rock forever!25For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.26And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God,27whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!
Luke
1After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.2And he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.3Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.4Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road.5Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace be to this house!'6And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you.7And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house.8Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you.9Heal the sick in it and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.'10But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say,11'Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.'12I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound expressions of faith and trust in God. The first reading from Job 19:21-27 presents Job in the depths of suffering, crying out for mercy and compassion. Despite feeling abandoned by friends and pursued by God, Job clings to his faith, declaring his hope in a Redeemer who will one day rise. His words resonate with unwavering trust, even in the face of immense pain, as he looks forward to the day he will see God.
The Gospel from Luke 10:1-12 shifts our focus to Jesus sending out 72 disciples, preparing them for their mission. Jesus equips them with a message of peace and the authority to heal, yet warns them of the challenges they will face. He instructs them to travel lightly, relying on the hospitality of others, and to move on if they are not received well. This mission calls for radical trust in God's providence, emphasizing that their worth is not measured by acceptance but by their fidelity to the task.
Both readings invite us to reflect on our own faith journey. Like Job, we may face trials that test our trust in God, yet his example encourages us to hold fast to hope. Like the disciples, we are called to share God's message with courage, trusting in His provision. In our daily lives, this means embracing challenges with faith, trusting in God's plan, and being open to serve others with humility and perseverance. May we, like Job and the disciples, find strength in our faith, trusting that God's presence guides us through all circumstances.