Readings for Friday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1: Job 38:1, 12-21; 40:3-5
The exchanges between Job and the “three friends” have concluded, now God himself speaks to Job. “…he speaks of his wisdom and power, which are altogether beyond the capacity of Job, who therefore should never dare to demand a reason for the divine actions. Out of the storm: frequently the background of the appearances of the Lord in the Old Testament; cf Psalm 18; 50; Nahum 1:3; Hebrews 3.”[3] Job’s response to God (in 40:3-5) is his final admission that he is incapable of understanding God’s ways.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 139:1-3, 7-8, 9-10, 13-14ab
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
Psalm 139 is a hymn of meditation upon God’s presence in our lives. The selection carries the awe that one so great could love one so insignificant. It recognizes that God’s spirit is in all His creation and its knowledge is omnipresent.
Gospel: Luke 10:13-16
The fist line of this reading is a “sense line” allowing the reading to stand alone. The passage is in fact a continuation of the instructions being given to the seventy (two) who are being sent out. The Lord instructs them to issue a call to repentance to those who reject the proclamation of the Kingdom of God. The punishment of these unbelieving communities will be severe as their rejection of the call to holiness is a rejection of Christ himself “And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me."
Reflection:
Scripture today causes us to pause in our constant search for a pragmatic expression of our call to follow Jesus in the world. It is almost as if we are being cautioned about becoming “too big for our britches.” If we become so certain that we understand what God wants from us and start depending upon our own judgment to guide all our actions, we have lost the humility God forces on Job in his response to Job’s growing impatience (Job has complained that he cannot speak freely because of God’s terrifying power and majesty, implying that his wisdom is on a par with God’s.)
God calls us to consider how small we are relative to his creation. He points to the earth and the cosmos as proofs of his power; and who can deny his existence when confronted with the reality of the natural world. We are called to observe the symphony of physical forces that allow for the continuation of life as God asks Job if he can set boundaries between earth (the physical) and heaven (the spiritual). Throughout these chapters of Job in Yahweh’s response, we are called to compare our power over the natural world to God’s and we are powerless.
When we are confronted by atheistic attitudes in the world who challenge the existence of God, our first response should be to simply invite that disbelieving person to look about and explain how the beauty and complexity of creation could have come about without that divine hand. And if, in their arrogance, they respond by pointing to physical processes (evolution (which by the way also supports God’s presence) or the “Big Bang”) our response should be an incredulous look with the question “And you believe this is coincidental or accidental?”
Far from being challenged about the existence of God we are now challenged to try to picture just how far-reaching his presence is in our lives. The wonderful psalm sings it to us; “If I take the wings of the dawn, if I settle at the farthest limits of the sea, even there your hand shall guide me and your right hand hold me fast.”
At last we come to the greatest revelation of all in Jesus who we hear instructing his disciples today. He girds them against an unbelieving world, blind to God’s love. It is this message that has been denied time and again by those who cannot love even themselves. In warning those faithless communities this way he impresses upon his followers the importance and urgency of their mission. One more proof of God’s nature – he made us (“…you knit me in my mother’s womb”), he cares only for our happiness as any good parent hopes for their children. He calls us to truly enjoy what he has given us by basking in the Son.
Yes, we pause to consider the wonders of God’s creation and marvel at God’s infinite love for us. Today our prayer is a simple one of thanks. God has blessed us with live and creation. We breathe in his love and are infused by his peace.
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture used today is “Creation of Adam” by Michelangelo Buonarroti, 1510
[3] See NAB footnote on Job 38:1
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1: Job 38:1, 12-21; 40:3-5
The exchanges between Job and the “three friends” have concluded, now God himself speaks to Job. “…he speaks of his wisdom and power, which are altogether beyond the capacity of Job, who therefore should never dare to demand a reason for the divine actions. Out of the storm: frequently the background of the appearances of the Lord in the Old Testament; cf Psalm 18; 50; Nahum 1:3; Hebrews 3.”[3] Job’s response to God (in 40:3-5) is his final admission that he is incapable of understanding God’s ways.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 139:1-3, 7-8, 9-10, 13-14ab
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
Psalm 139 is a hymn of meditation upon God’s presence in our lives. The selection carries the awe that one so great could love one so insignificant. It recognizes that God’s spirit is in all His creation and its knowledge is omnipresent.
Gospel: Luke 10:13-16
The fist line of this reading is a “sense line” allowing the reading to stand alone. The passage is in fact a continuation of the instructions being given to the seventy (two) who are being sent out. The Lord instructs them to issue a call to repentance to those who reject the proclamation of the Kingdom of God. The punishment of these unbelieving communities will be severe as their rejection of the call to holiness is a rejection of Christ himself “And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me."
Reflection:
Scripture today causes us to pause in our constant search for a pragmatic expression of our call to follow Jesus in the world. It is almost as if we are being cautioned about becoming “too big for our britches.” If we become so certain that we understand what God wants from us and start depending upon our own judgment to guide all our actions, we have lost the humility God forces on Job in his response to Job’s growing impatience (Job has complained that he cannot speak freely because of God’s terrifying power and majesty, implying that his wisdom is on a par with God’s.)
God calls us to consider how small we are relative to his creation. He points to the earth and the cosmos as proofs of his power; and who can deny his existence when confronted with the reality of the natural world. We are called to observe the symphony of physical forces that allow for the continuation of life as God asks Job if he can set boundaries between earth (the physical) and heaven (the spiritual). Throughout these chapters of Job in Yahweh’s response, we are called to compare our power over the natural world to God’s and we are powerless.
When we are confronted by atheistic attitudes in the world who challenge the existence of God, our first response should be to simply invite that disbelieving person to look about and explain how the beauty and complexity of creation could have come about without that divine hand. And if, in their arrogance, they respond by pointing to physical processes (evolution (which by the way also supports God’s presence) or the “Big Bang”) our response should be an incredulous look with the question “And you believe this is coincidental or accidental?”
Far from being challenged about the existence of God we are now challenged to try to picture just how far-reaching his presence is in our lives. The wonderful psalm sings it to us; “If I take the wings of the dawn, if I settle at the farthest limits of the sea, even there your hand shall guide me and your right hand hold me fast.”
At last we come to the greatest revelation of all in Jesus who we hear instructing his disciples today. He girds them against an unbelieving world, blind to God’s love. It is this message that has been denied time and again by those who cannot love even themselves. In warning those faithless communities this way he impresses upon his followers the importance and urgency of their mission. One more proof of God’s nature – he made us (“…you knit me in my mother’s womb”), he cares only for our happiness as any good parent hopes for their children. He calls us to truly enjoy what he has given us by basking in the Son.
Yes, we pause to consider the wonders of God’s creation and marvel at God’s infinite love for us. Today our prayer is a simple one of thanks. God has blessed us with live and creation. We breathe in his love and are infused by his peace.
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture used today is “Creation of Adam” by Michelangelo Buonarroti, 1510
[3] See NAB footnote on Job 38:1
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