Daily Readings - Wed Sep 28 2022
Job
1Then Job answered and said,2I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?3If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.4He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?5Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.6Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.7Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.8Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.9Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.10Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.11Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.12Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?14How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?15Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.16If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.
Luke
57And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.58And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.59And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.60Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.61And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.62And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
Sermon
The first reading from the Book of Job presents us with a profound expression of humility and awe in the face of God’s power and wisdom. Job acknowledges the vastness of God’s understanding and strength, recognizing that humanity cannot fully comprehend or challenge God’s ways. He reflects on how God’s power shapes the world, from moving mountains to commanding the stars, and admits that human beings are limited in their ability to grasp the divine. Job’s words remind us of the mystery and majesty of God, inviting us to approach Him with reverence and humility.
In the Gospel, Jesus challenges three individuals who express a desire to follow Him, revealing the radical commitment required for discipleship. To the first, He emphasizes that following Him means embracing instability and sacrifice, for even the Son of Man has no place to call His own. To the second, He insists that the call to proclaim the kingdom of God must take precedence over even family obligations. To the third, He warns against looking back once one has decided to follow Him. These exchanges underscore the demand of prioritizing God above all else and trusting in His providence, even when the path is uncertain.
Both readings call us to trust in God’s plan and to embrace the sacrifices that come with following Him. Like Job, we are invited to humbly acknowledge our limitations and to place our faith in God’s wisdom, even when we cannot fully understand His ways. Like the would-be disciples in the Gospel, we are challenged to let go of attachments and distractions, trusting that God will guide us. May we, in our own lives, cultivate this kind of faith and courage, surrendering our will to His and walking forward with confidence in His love.