October 6, 2012

Saturday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 460

A Reading from the Holy Book of Job

Jb 42:1-3, 5-6, 12-17

We continue in the book of Job.  At this point, Job has been oppressed by Satan and his family destroyed.  His own body dessimated in sores.  Then to add insult to injury, his friends who purportedly came to comfort him, do so by blaming him for all that that Satan has done to him.

Job responded in confusion, by declaring that it would have been better if he had not been born.  But then admits that God knows best and that he resigns himself to God's will.  Because he has faith that God will, in the end, justify Job.  Then, unexpectedly, God responded directly to Job.  Pointing out that which Job already knows.  That God has a plan for everything.  Then Job answers...


Job answered the LORD and said:

I know that you can do all things,
and that no purpose of yours can be hindered.
I have dealt with great things that I do not understand;
things too wonderful for me, which I cannot know.
I had heard of you by word of mouth,
but now my eye has seen you.
Therefore I disown what I have said,
and repent in dust and ashes.

And so, Job humbles himself before God, having expressed his undying faith in God.

Thus the LORD blessed the latter days of Job
more than his earlier ones.
For he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels,
a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she-asses.
And he had seven sons and three daughters,
of whom he called the first Jemimah,
the second Keziah, and the third Kerenhappuch.
In all the land no other women were as beautiful
as the daughters of Job;
and their father gave them an inheritance
along with their brothers.
After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years;
and he saw his children, his grandchildren,
and even his great-grandchildren.
Then Job died, old and full of years.

God blessed Job in this life as a sign to us of the reward we can expect in the next life, if we are faithful to Him in this one:

1 Corinthians 2:9
King James Version (KJV)
⁹ But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 119:66, 71, 75, 91, 125, 130

Response. (135) Lord, let your face shine on me.

Teach me wisdom and knowledge,
for in your commands I trust.

R. Lord, let your face shine on me.

It is good for me that I have been afflicted,
that I may learn your statutes.

R. Lord, let your face shine on me.

I know, O LORD, that your ordinances are just,
and in your faithfulness you have afflicted me.

R. Lord, let your face shine on me.

According to your ordinances they still stand firm:
all things serve you.

R. Lord, let your face shine on me.

I am your servant; give me discernment
that I may know your decrees.

R. Lord, let your face shine on me.


The revelation of your words sheds light,
giving understanding to the simple.


R. Lord, let your face shine on me.

Wow!  Excellent Psalm.  There are many things taught here.

First, the response is a reference to Moses meeting God face to face:

Exodus 34:28-30
King James Version (KJV)
²⁸ And he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.  ²⁹ And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.  ³⁰ And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.

And to Christ in the Transfiguration:

Matthew 17:2
King James Version (KJV)
² And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

Second, the Commandments of God contain wisdom and knowledge.

Third, the Church teaches us the Commandments of God and thus it is written:

Ephesians 3:10
King James Version (KJV)
¹⁰ To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

Fourth, affliction frees us from sin:

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;

And, unless we suffer we will not be saved:

Hebrews 12:8
King James Version (KJV)
⁸ But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

Because, suffering teaches us obedience:

Hebrews 5:8
King James Version (KJV)
⁸ Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

So, keep the Commandments, because sin is the transgression of the Commandments:

1 John 3:4
King James Version (KJV)
⁴ Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke

Lk 10:17-24

The seventy-two disciples returned rejoicing and said to Jesus,
"Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name."

The seventy-two disciples have returned and like little children they are enthralled by the power which they can wield in the name of Christ.  But Christ gently guides them in the right direction.

Jesus said, "I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky.
Behold, I have given you the power
'to tread upon serpents' and scorpions
and upon the full force of the enemy
and nothing will harm you.
Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you,
but rejoice because your names are written in heaven."

Christ agrees and compliments them but warns, "Don't rejoice over the power you have been given.  But rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

At that very moment he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said,
"I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,

At that point, it seems that Christ Himself went into a spiritual condition which the St. Luke calls, "rejoicing in the Holy Spirit".  And He turns directly to the Father and gives thanks.

for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to the childlike.

The wise and learned are the Pharisees and the Saduccees.  They have been given a spiritual blindness because of their lack of faith:

Romans 11:25
King James Version (KJV)
²⁵ For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

The childlike are they who have received the word of God with complete faith in Christ, such as Mary and the Apostles and Disciples.

Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
No one knows who the Son is except the Father,
and who the Father is except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him."

Then Jesus reveals the teaching that no one comes to the Father but through Him:

John 14:6

King James Version (KJV)

⁶ Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Turning to the disciples in private he said,
"Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.
For I say to you,
many prophets and kings desired to see what you see,
but did not see it,
and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it."

And then He reveals to the disciples how blessed they are.  Because they have seen Him and many Prophets have longed to see Him and never did.

Sincerely,

De Maria