October 1, 2012

Memorial of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, virgin and doctor of the Church

St. Therese of Lisieux, the Little Flower, read more.


Lectionary: 455

A reading from the holy book of Job
Jb 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?"

Satan was kicked out of heaven by St. Michael:

Revelation 12:7-9
King James Version (KJV)
⁷ And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,  ⁸ And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.  ⁹ And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

But apparently God still permits Satan to come before Him on occasion.   Pope Leo XIII had a vision of such an appearance when he formulated the St. Michael prayer.

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."

It is not for nothing that Satan is known as the Accuser and the Adversary.  His sole purpose is to bring the entire human race to hell with him.  Just as he did a third of his own brethren.

Revelation 12:4
King James Version (KJV)
⁴ And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.

A "third part of the stars in heaven" means a third part of the angels.  Angels are frequently known as "lights" of heaven and "stars" is frequently used as a euphemism for angels.  Therefore, here, third part of the stars of heaven means third part of the angels.

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.

God gave Satan the authority to test Job.  Many people think this is a unique situation.  But it is not.  All the trials we go through are tests and temptations which Satan besets upon us:

1 Peter 5:8
King James Version (KJV)
⁸ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

And this doesn't end in this life.  It is Satan who is in charge of castigating all the souls in Purgatory:

Revelation 2:10
King James Version (KJV)
¹⁰ Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

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."

Many have said and will say, "how horrible that God permitted all these people to be killed!"  But I follow the Scripture:

Hebrews 11:17-19
King James Version (KJV)
¹⁷ By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,¹⁸ Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:¹⁹ Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

We know or have a lively hope that God did not permit those children to die and be condemned.  But because of the faith of His devout son, Job, they were all saved to eternal life.  They were RAISED and will be raised on the Last Day.

Brothers and sisters, faith is the key!

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.

Oh my!  Can you imagine receiving all this horrible news all at once?  Job must have been  extraordinarily faithful and strong.  Because Scripture says:

1 Corinthians 10:13
King James Version (KJV)
¹³ There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

For those of you who are suffering the trials of Job.  Keep in mind a faithful saying:

1 Peter 4:1

King James Version (KJV)

1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

Suffering in the flesh rids us of sin. 

Responsorial Psalm Ps 17:1Bcd, 2-3, 6-7

Response. (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.

Justification of the righteous is here illustrated.  Note that the righteous man does not consider himself saved because of his works.  But the righteous man who has done the works of God pleads for God's tender mercy.  As the Scripture says:

Exodus 20:6
King James Version (KJV)
⁶ And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

God does not show mercy and save those who do not keep His Commandments.  God shows mercy and saves those who do.

Romans 2:13
King James Version (KJV)
¹³ (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke
Lk 9:46-50

An argument arose among the disciples
about which of them was the greatest.

The Apostles were again arguing over who was the leader.

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."

Jesus heard them and placed a child before them as an example of humility and innocence.  And said to them, that one must be like a little child in order to be great in heaven.

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."

St. John remembered at that point, that they had seen an outsider casting out demons in the name of Christ.  The Apostles had seen this and tried to stop him.

But Christ said it was wrong to do so. For this person was not against them and therefore was working in their favor.

Sincerely,

De Maria