Daily Readings - Tue Oct 01 2024
Job
1After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.2He said:3"May the day of my birth perish, and the night it was said, 'A boy is born!'11"Why did I not perish at birth, and die as I came from the womb?12Why were there knees to receive me and breasts that I might be nursed?13For now I would be lying down in peace; I would be asleep and at rest14with kings and counselors of the earth, who built for themselves places now lying in ruins,15with rulers who had gold, who filled their houses with silver.16Or why was I not hidden in the ground like a stillborn child, like an infant who never saw the light of day?17There the wicked cease from turmoil, and there the weary are at rest.20"Why is light given to those in misery, and life to the bitter of soul,21to those who long for death that does not come, who search for it more than for hidden treasure,22who are filled with gladness and rejoice when they reach the grave?23Why is life given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in?
Luke
51As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.52And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him;53but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem.54When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?"55But Jesus turned and rebuked them,56and they went to another village.
Sermon
The readings today present us with two powerful images of suffering and response. In the first reading from Job, we hear the anguished cry of a man who has lost everything—his family, his health, and his livelihood. Job curses the day he was born, expressing the deep bitterness and despair that can come when we face immense pain and feel abandoned by God. Yet, even in his suffering, Job does not turn away from God; instead, he cries out to Him, seeking some understanding of his plight. This is a profound act of faith, for it shows that even in the darkest moments, we can still address God, even if our words are filled with anger or confusion.
In the Gospel, we see Jesus facing rejection as He journeys toward Jerusalem. The Samaritans refuse to welcome Him because He is heading toward the holy city, a place they likely viewed with resentment. When His disciples, James and John, suggest calling down fire from heaven to punish the Samaritans, Jesus rebukes them, reminding them that He has come not to destroy but to save. This exchange highlights the central mission of Jesus: to bring salvation through love and mercy, not through vengeance or retaliation. It also challenges us to reflect on how we respond to rejection or harm. Do we seek revenge, or do we choose to love and forgive?
These readings invite us to consider how we handle suffering and rejection in our own lives. Like Job, we may feel overwhelmed by pain or injustice, and it’s natural to question God’s plan. But Job’s example teaches us that even in the midst of suffering, we can turn to God in honesty and trust. Similarly, Jesus shows us that our response to harm should be shaped by mercy and compassion, not anger or retaliation. As we navigate our own struggles and encounters with rejection, let us remember that God is always with us, even in the darkness, and that we are called to imitate Christ by choosing love over vengeance. May we trust in God’s plan, even when it’s hard to understand, and may we strive to reflect His mercy in all we do.