Daily Readings - Wed Nov 02 2022
Job
1Then Job answered and said: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!
John
23And Jesus answered them, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.24Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.25Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.26If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound reflections on suffering, hope, and redemption. The first reading from Job presents a man in the depths of anguish, yet unwavering in his faith. Job, despite his immense suffering, declares his trust in a Redeemer who will one day vindicate him. His words are a testament to the enduring power of hope, even in the darkest of times. The Gospel from John shifts our focus to Jesus, who speaks of the necessity of self-sacrifice. Using the metaphor of the grain of wheat, Jesus teaches that true life comes through death to self, emphasizing that those who follow him must embrace this path of service and surrender.
These readings, though separated by centuries, are deeply connected. Job's hope for a Redeemer finds its fulfillment in Jesus, who through his own death and resurrection, reveals the ultimate act of self-giving love. Both readings invite us to reflect on the paradox of suffering and its role in our spiritual journey. Job's faith in the face of adversity and Jesus' call to self-denial remind us that our struggles, when embraced with trust in God, can lead to transformation and new life.
In our daily lives, these teachings challenge us to reevaluate our approach to suffering and self-interest. Like Job, we are called to hold fast to hope, even when our circumstances seem insurmountable. Like Jesus, we are invited to let go of our attachment to worldly comfort and instead embrace lives of service and love. The moral lesson here is clear: true freedom and fulfillment are found not in avoiding suffering, but in surrendering to God's will and trusting in his plan. Let us, therefore, approach each day with courage, ready to embrace the crosses we bear, knowing that through them, we may bear fruit that endures.