Daily Readings - Thu Oct 03 2024
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 his suffering, yet he clings to his faith in a Redeemer. Despite being pursued and overwhelmed, Job's trust in God's plan and ultimate redemption shines through. His words are a testament to the human spirit's capacity to hold onto hope even in the darkest moments.
The Gospel from Luke 10:1-12 shifts our focus to the mission of the disciples. Jesus sends them out with minimal provisions, akin to lambs among wolves, emphasizing trust in divine providence. Their task is to proclaim the nearness of God's kingdom, heal the sick, and accept hospitality where offered. This passage underscores the importance of reliance on God's grace and the courage to fulfill one's calling, even in uncertain circumstances.
Both readings invite us to reflect on our own trust in God. Like Job, we may face trials that test our faith, yet his example encourages us to remain steadfast. Like the disciples, we are called to embrace our mission with trust, whether in serving others or navigating life's challenges. The moral lesson here is clear: trust in God's providence and remain faithful, for it is through this trust that we find strength and purpose.