Daily Readings - Wed Sep 30 2020
Job
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.
Luke
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.