Daily Catholic Mass Readings for September 30, 2020
First Reading: Job 9.1-12, 14-16
1Then Job replied:2"Indeed, I know that this is true. But how can a mortal be righteous before God?3Though one wished to dispute with him, he could not answer him one time out of a thousand.4His wisdom is profound, his power is vast. Who has resisted him and come out unscathed?5He moves mountains without their knowing it and overturns them in his anger.6He shakes the earth from its place and makes its pillars tremble.7He speaks to the sun and it does not shine; he seals off the light of the stars.8He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea.9He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.10He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.11When he passes me, I cannot see him; when he goes by, I cannot perceive him.12If he snatches away, who can stop him? Who can say to him, 'What are you doing?'14"How then can I dispute with him? How can I find words to argue with him?15Though I were innocent, I could not answer him; I could only plead with my Judge for mercy.16Even if I summoned him and he responded, I do not believe he would give me a hearing.
Psalm 88
1O LORD, the God who saves me, day and night I cry out before you.2May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry.3For my soul is full of trouble and my life draws near the grave.4I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am like a man without strength.5I am set apart with the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more, who are cut off from your care.6You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths.7Your wrath lies heavily upon me; you have overwhelmed me with all your waves. Selah8You have taken from me my closest friends and have made me repulsive to them. I am confined and cannot escape;9my eyes are dim with grief. I call to you, O LORD, every day; I spread out my hands to you.10Do you show your wonders to the dead? Do those who are dead rise up and praise you? Selah11Is your love declared in the grave, your faithfulness in Destruction?12Are your wonders known in the place of darkness, or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion?13But I cry to you for help, O LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before you.14Why, O LORD, do you reject me and hide your face from me?15From my youth I have been afflicted and close to death; I have suffered your terrors and am in despair.16Your wrath has swept over me; your terrors have destroyed me.17All day long they surround me like a flood; they have completely engulfed me.18You have taken my companions and loved ones from me; the darkness is my closest friend.
Gospel: Luke 9.57-62
57As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."58Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."59He said to another man, "Follow me." But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."60Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."61Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good bye to my family."62Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful reflections on the nature of faith, trust, and surrender. The first reading from Job presents us with a man who, in the midst of suffering and confusion, humbly acknowledges the vastness of God’s power and wisdom. Job recognizes that he cannot justify himself before God or fully understand His ways, and so he turns to humility and trust. This is not an act of resignation but of faith—a recognition that God’s ways are beyond human comprehension and that true wisdom lies in surrendering to His will.
In the Gospel, Jesus challenges would-be followers to consider the cost of discipleship. He calls them to radical commitment, refusing to let even the most natural human ties—family obligations or personal plans—take precedence over following Him. This is not a call to irresponsibility but to prioritization. Jesus is asking us to let go of our need for control, security, and comfort, and instead to trust in His plan and timing. Like Job, we are invited to surrender our own understanding and desires, trusting that God’s way is always greater than our own.
These readings remind us that faith is not about having all the answers or ensuring a smooth path. It is about trusting in God’s providence, even when the road is uncertain. In our daily lives, this means letting go of our need to control every outcome and instead placing our confidence in God. It means being willing to step out in faith, even when we cannot see the full picture. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Where am I holding back from fully trusting God? What distractions or attachments am I allowing to take precedence over my relationship with Him? May we, like Job, humbly acknowledge God’s greatness, and may we, like the disciples, follow Jesus with courage and abandon, trusting that He will guide us home.