In the first reading, God reminded Job of who God is. God reminded Job of the things we sometimes, or oftentimes, we take for granted, things we think are normal or things we don’t even think about. It is God who created everything and tells everything what to do. The sun – how it rises and sets, the sky – how it behaves and how the clouds form, the sea – how deep it is, how dark the depths of the sea is, these are just some of the things God created and arranges. These things, which we overlook, or oftentimes do not understand, are all God’s work. Even these things we take for granted are under the supervision of God. He is the almighty and ever powerful God. Something we usually forget.
God created everything, but we are his best creation.
We are made under the image and likeness of God. That is why if God takes care of other things, what more of us! He knows us by heart. He knows what will make us happy, and what our concerns are. Just as God was watching over Job and protecting him in his trials, he too is doing the same thing to us. He makes sure we are not subjected to more than we can handle.
In the busyness of life, we sometimes forget these things. We forget how great God is. We forget how powerful he is. We forget how loving he is. We forget how protective he is. When we don’t get what we want, we get angry at him. We feel that he doesn’t love us, or he doesn’t know how to make us happy. We sometimes feel entitled to blessings. Worse, we sometimes feel he has no power over our concerns, we think that God doesn’t have power over the natural things in life, over the things logic tells us are not possible. Sometimes we get worried about worldly things and don’t know if God can and will help us. We forget how powerful he is, and we forget that he always has his eyes on us. We forget our place, that we cannot and should not demand anything from him, because our very being is because of him.
May we always remember how powerful God is, and how he loves us, knows everything about us, and always has his eyes on us.
Do I sometimes forget what great things God has done? Do I sometimes belittle his power or his love for me? How has he made his love alive in my life? What great things has he done that I take for granted? What can I do to always be reminded of his power and love for me?
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for a weekend coming up. Thank you for loving me, an unworthy and little person. Lord, you don’t need to love me. I don’t make your being God mightier or greater. You don’t need me Lord, but you love me just because you are love. In fact, it is I who needs you. I know that I am nothing without you, that I cannot accomplish anything without you. Sorry for the times I forget your love and power. Sorry for the times I feel entitled to receive blessings from you. May I always remember to stay close to you and trust that you always have the best plan for me, and that with you, nothing is impossible. May I have faith in you always, and may I always be grateful for everything. Amen.
Blessed day!
In Christ,
-g-
Ps
See related reflection:
Daily Readings
- Readings for the Memorial of Saint Jerome, priest and doctor of the Church
Memorial of Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church
Lectionary: 459
Reading 1
The LORD addressed Job out of the storm and said:
Have you ever in your lifetime commanded the morning
and shown the dawn its place
For taking hold of the ends of the earth,
till the wicked are shaken from its surface?
The earth is changed as is clay by the seal,
and dyed as though it were a garment;
But from the wicked the light is withheld,
and the arm of pride is shattered.
Have you entered into the sources of the sea,
or walked about in the depths of the abyss?
Have the gates of death been shown to you,
or have you seen the gates of darkness?
Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth?
Tell me, if you know all:
Which is the way to the dwelling place of light,
and where is the abode of darkness,
That you may take them to their boundaries
and set them on their homeward paths?
You know, because you were born before them,
and the number of your years is great!
Then Job answered the LORD and said:
Behold, I am of little account; what can I answer you?
I put my hand over my mouth.
Though I have spoken once, I will not do so again;
though twice, I will do so no more.
Have you ever in your lifetime commanded the morning
and shown the dawn its place
For taking hold of the ends of the earth,
till the wicked are shaken from its surface?
The earth is changed as is clay by the seal,
and dyed as though it were a garment;
But from the wicked the light is withheld,
and the arm of pride is shattered.
Have you entered into the sources of the sea,
or walked about in the depths of the abyss?
Have the gates of death been shown to you,
or have you seen the gates of darkness?
Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth?
Tell me, if you know all:
Which is the way to the dwelling place of light,
and where is the abode of darkness,
That you may take them to their boundaries
and set them on their homeward paths?
You know, because you were born before them,
and the number of your years is great!
Then Job answered the LORD and said:
Behold, I am of little account; what can I answer you?
I put my hand over my mouth.
Though I have spoken once, I will not do so again;
though twice, I will do so no more.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (24b) Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
O LORD, you have probed me and you know me;
you know when I sit and when I stand;
you understand my thoughts from afar.
My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,
with all my ways you are familiar.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
Where can I go from your spirit?
From your presence where can I flee?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I sink to the nether world, you are present there.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
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.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
Truly you have formed my inmost being;
you knit me in my mother's womb.
I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made;
wonderful are your works.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
O LORD, you have probed me and you know me;
you know when I sit and when I stand;
you understand my thoughts from afar.
My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,
with all my ways you are familiar.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
Where can I go from your spirit?
From your presence where can I flee?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I sink to the nether world, you are present there.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
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.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
Truly you have formed my inmost being;
you knit me in my mother's womb.
I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made;
wonderful are your works.
R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
If today you hear his voice,
harden not your hearts.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
If today you hear his voice,
harden not your hearts.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Jesus said to them,
"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!
For if the mighty deeds done in your midst
had been done in Tyre and Sidon,
they would long ago have repented,
sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon
at the judgment than for you.
And as for you, Capernaum, 'Will you be exalted to heaven?
You will go down to the netherworld.'
Whoever listens to you listens to me.
Whoever rejects you rejects me.
And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me."
"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!
For if the mighty deeds done in your midst
had been done in Tyre and Sidon,
they would long ago have repented,
sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon
at the judgment than for you.
And as for you, Capernaum, 'Will you be exalted to heaven?
You will go down to the netherworld.'
Whoever listens to you listens to me.
Whoever rejects you rejects me.
And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me."
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