Daily Readings - Sat Oct 05 2024
Job
1Then Job answered the LORD, and said,2I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.3Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.5I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.6Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.12So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.13He had also seven sons and three daughters.15And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren.16After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, even four generations.17So Job died, being old and full of days.
Luke
17And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.18And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.19Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.20Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.21In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.22All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.23And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see:24For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
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.