Daily Readings - Sat Oct 05 2024
Job
1Then Job answered the LORD and said:2"I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.3'Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.5I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you;6therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes."12And the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning. And he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys.13He had also seven sons and three daughters.15And in all the land there were no women so beautiful as Job's daughters. And their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers.16And after this Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, four generations.17And Job died, an old man, and full of days.
Luke
17The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!"18And he said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.19Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.20Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."21In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.22All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."23Then turning to the disciples he said privately, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see!24For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on humility, trust in God, and the true source of our joy. In the first reading from the Book of Job, we see Job’s profound humility in the face of suffering and divine mystery. After enduring immense trials, Job acknowledges the limits of his understanding and the vastness of God’s wisdom. He repents not because he has done wrong, but because he recognizes the awe-inspiring power and knowledge of the Lord. This humility leads to his ultimate blessing, as God restores his life abundantly. The passage reminds us that true wisdom lies in acknowledging our smallness before God and trusting in His providence.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches His disciples about the nature of joy and spiritual victory. The seventy-two disciples return from their mission elated because they have cast out demons in Jesus’ name. But Jesus redirects their focus: their true joy should not come from their power over evil spirits, but from the fact that their names are written in heaven. He then praises the Father for revealing divine truths to the “little ones” rather than the wise and powerful. This teaching underscores the importance of humility and childlike faith. It is not our accomplishments or strengths that bring us closest to God, but our willingness to depend on Him and recognize our need for His grace.
These readings call us to reevaluate where we place our trust and joy. Like Job, we may face trials or uncertainties, but we are invited to respond with humility and faith. Like the disciples, we may achieve things in life, but our ultimate fulfillment comes from knowing that we belong to God and that our names are “written in heaven.” Let us cultivate a spirit of humility and gratitude, recognizing that true joy flows from our relationship with God. May we trust in His plan, even when we do not fully understand it, and may we find contentment in the knowledge that we are loved and called by Him.