Daily Readings - Wed Sep 28 2022
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
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.