Daily Readings - Fri Sep 30 2022
Job
12"Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place,13that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth, and the wicked be shaken out of it?14It is changed like clay under the seal, and its features stand out like a garment.15From the wicked their light is withheld, and their uplifted arm is broken.16"Have you entered into the springs of the sea, or walked in the recesses of the deep?17Have the gates of death been revealed to you, or have you seen the gates of deep darkness?18Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth? Declare, if you know all this.19"Where is the way to the dwelling of light, and where is the place of darkness,20that you may take it to its territory and that you may discern the paths to its home?21You know, for you were born then, and the number of your days is great!
Luke
13"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.14But it will be more bearable in the judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you.15And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades.16"The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of humility, accountability, and the call to repentance. In the first reading from the Book of Job, we encounter a dramatic moment in which God speaks to Job, challenging him with a series of rhetorical questions that underscore the vastness of divine wisdom and power. Job, who has endured immense suffering and questioned God’s justice, is brought to a place of profound humility. He acknowledges his own limitations and the mystery of God’s ways, saying, “What could I possibly answer, since I have been speaking thoughtlessly? I will place my hand over my mouth.” This moment marks a turning point for Job, as he learns to trust in God’s providence without fully understanding it.
In the Gospel, Jesus addresses the towns of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, reproaching them for their lack of repentance despite the miracles He performed in their midst. He warns them that on the day of judgment, the pagan cities of Tyre and Sidon, which were not given such gifts, will fare better than they will. This passage emphasizes the gravity of spiritual complacency and the importance of responding to God’s grace with humility and conversion. Jesus’ words remind us that the greater the blessings we receive, the greater our responsibility to use them well.
These readings are deeply connected. Both Job and the towns in the Gospel are called to recognize the gifts they have been given and to respond with humility and faith. Job’s story teaches us that true wisdom lies in acknowledging our own limitations and trusting in God’s plan, even when we cannot fully understand it. The Gospel, on the other hand, challenges us to examine how we respond to the blessings and opportunities God has given us. Do we take them for granted, or do we allow them to transform us and lead us to repentance?
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How do we respond to the gifts and challenges in our own lives? Do we approach them with humility and gratitude, or with pride and indifference? Let us learn from Job’s example, placing our hands over our mouths when we are tempted to question God’s ways, and instead, seek to trust in His providence. And let us heed Jesus’ warning, recognizing that the blessings we receive bring not only joy but also a call to conversion and fidelity. May we strive to live with humility, gratitude, and a deep commitment to following God’s will in our daily lives.