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| “The Patient Job” by Gerard Seghers, 1630’s |
Reading 1: Job 1:6-22
One day, when the angels of
God came to present themselves before the LORD,
Satan also came among them.
And the LORD said to Satan,
"Whence do you come?"
Then Satan answered the LORD
and said,
"From roaming the earth
and patrolling it."
And the LORD said to Satan,
"Have you noticed my servant Job,
and that there is no one on
earth like him,
blameless and upright,
fearing God and avoiding evil?"
But Satan answered the LORD
and said,
"Is it for nothing that
Job is God-fearing?
Have you not surrounded him
and his family
and all that he has with your
protection?
You have blessed the work of
his hands,
and his livestock are spread
over the land.
But now put forth your hand
and touch anything that he has,
and surely he will blaspheme
you to your face."
And the LORD said to Satan,
"Behold, all that he has
is in your power;
only do not lay a hand upon
his person."
So Satan went forth from the
presence of the LORD.
And so one day, while his
sons and his daughters
were eating and drinking wine
in the house of their eldest
brother,
a messenger came to Job and
said,
"The oxen were ploughing
and the asses grazing beside them,
and the Sabeans carried them
off in a raid.
They put the herdsmen to the
sword,
and I alone have escaped to
tell you."
While he was yet speaking,
another came and said,
"Lightning has fallen
from heaven
and struck the sheep and
their shepherds and consumed them;
and I alone have escaped to
tell you."
While he was yet speaking,
another messenger came and said,
"The Chaldeans formed
three columns,
seized the camels, carried
them off,
and put those tending them to
the sword,
and I alone have escaped to
tell you."
While he was yet speaking,
another came and said,
"Your sons and daughters
were eating and drinking wine
in the house of their eldest
brother,
when suddenly a great wind
came across the desert
and smote the four corners of
the house.
It fell upon the young people
and they are dead;
and I alone have escaped to
tell you."
Then Job began to tear his
cloak and cut off his hair.
He cast himself prostrate
upon the ground, and said,
"Naked I came forth from
my mother's womb,
and naked shall I go back
again.
The LORD gave and the LORD
has taken away;
blessed be the name of the
LORD!"
In all this Job did not sin,
nor did he say anything
disrespectful of God.
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Commentary on Jb 1:6-22
This beginning section of the
Book of Job describes Satan’s attempt to turn Job from being faithful to God by
attempting to dupe Job into believing that God’s favor had been withdrawn from
him and punishment was being laid upon him.
In successive waves, messengers arrive to bring terrible news as one at
a time all of the material blessings given to God’s faithful servant are
stripped away. The series of disasters
concludes with the death of his children, his posterity. With this final blow, Job tears his cloths, a
symbol of mourning and cuts off his hair as a sign of repentance
The first scene ends with Job
the clear winner: Satan thought he would curse the Lord (v. 11), but in fact he
openly praises him (v. 21). The sacred writer comes Out on Job's side when he
states that Job committed no sin nor even raised his voice against God. Satan
has been proved wrong.[4]
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 17:1bcd, 2-3,
6-7
R. (6) Incline your ear to me and hear my word.
Hear, O LORD, a just suit;
attend to my outcry;
hearken to my prayer from
lips without deceit.
R. Incline your ear to me and hear my word.
From you let my judgment
come;
your eyes behold what is
right.
Though you test my heart,
searching it in the night,
though you try me with fire,
you shall find no malice in me.
R. Incline your ear to me and hear my word.
I call upon you, for you will
answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me; hear
my word.
Show your wondrous mercies,
O savior of those who flee
from their foes to refuge at
your right hand.
R. Incline your ear to me and hear my word.
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Commentary on Ps
17:1bcd, 2-3, 6-7
Psalm 17 is an individual lament. The psalmist sings for God’s
help in distress, having been firm in faithfulness, the Lord is called upon for
justice. Faith in God’s salvation will follow those who keep firm to God’s
commands.
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Gospel: Luke 9:46-50
An argument arose among the
disciples
about which of them was the
greatest.
Jesus realized the intention
of their hearts and took a child
and placed it by his side and
said to them,
"Whoever receives this
child in my name receives me,
and whoever receives me receives
the one who sent me.
For the one who is least
among all of you
is the one who is the
greatest."
Then John said in reply,
"Master, we saw someone
casting out demons in your name
and we tried to prevent him
because he does not follow in
our company."
Jesus said to him,
"Do not prevent him, for
whoever is not against you is for you."
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Commentary on Lk
9:46-50
St. Luke depicts a teaching moment
for Jesus as he tells his Disciples that they must not fall into the all too
human trap of rivalry for leadership. Rather he tells them that humble
leadership will be the norm. In the second instance, the Lord insists that his
Disciples accept support from those whom they do not know (see also comments on
Mark 9:38-48).
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Reflection:
Kneeling before the tabernacle, I can think of only one thing to say to our Lord: "My God, you know that I love You." And I feel that my prayer does not weary Jesus; knowing my weakness, He is satisfied with my good will. -Saint Therese of Lisieux
When we read the Gospel of St. Luke
and hear the words we heard today; “For the one who is least among all of you is the one who
is the greatest” there are some contemporary
examples we could point to for meaning. None, however, are more eloquent than
the attitude expressed by St. Thérèse, the Little Flower of Jesus who was
quoted at the beginning of this entry.
The simple faith captured in that one
piercing prayer “My God, you
know that I love You.” says volumes and when it comes from the
heart it drives our actions to imitate those of Christ. His whole mission was
to give exactly that message from God to us “My Children, you know that I love
you.”
The Lord was telling his Disciples
that when their intent was unselfish, their actions directed at loving God,
then their leadership would be genuine and the outcome pleasing to the Father
whose love is expressed perfectly in Jesus. It is such a simple concept that,
like them, we often “over think” it. We get caught up in the complexity of
human interaction, trying to detect motives and appeal to agendas. Our
expression of that prayer; “My
God, you know that I love You.” in our every action will accomplish
what God intends.
Pax
[2]
The picture is “The Patient Job” by Gerard Seghers, 1630’s
[3]
The readings are taken from the New American Bible with the exception of the
Psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for
English in Liturgy (ICEL). This
re-publication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
[4]
The Navarre Bible: “Wisdom Books”, Scepter Publishers, Princeton, NJ, © 2003,
pp 31
